Thomas Tuchel has all but confirmed Bukayo Saka will not start against Ghana on Tuesday, despite the winger insisting he is ready to gamble on his fitness for England’s World Cup campaign.
The Arsenal attacker came off the bench in the 4-2 win over Croatia on Wednesday, immediately providing an assist for fellow substitute Marcus Rashford. But Tuchel, speaking on Monday, was unequivocal: “Bukayo is ready and will get more and more ready. I think once we go to the last game of this group he will be ready.”
“Tuchel says Bukayo Saka unlikely to start against Ghana due to Achilles tendinitis management.”
That last group game — against Panama in New Jersey on 27 June — appears to be the target date for Saka’s first start. Until then, the 24-year-old will be managed through what is understood to be an Achilles tendinitis issue that has nagged him for some time.
Saka himself insisted he was prepared to “gamble” on his fitness to help the team. But Tuchel’s comments suggest the German head coach is prioritising the long game, protecting an attacker who could become a crucial asset in the knockout stages.
The injury was a known concern at Arsenal, where boss Mikel Arteta generally kept information about Saka’s condition in-house. Yet the Gunners deemed their forward fit enough to start regularly during their triumphant title run-in, and it is understood the issue has not deteriorated since the climax of the domestic season.
Tuchel’s latest remarks also leave the door ajar for Marc Guehi and Marcus Rashford to stake a claim for starting roles against Ghana. Rashford, who scored after coming on against Croatia, is one of the manager’s “big dilemmas,” along with Guehi.
Meanwhile, Harry Kane and Declan Rice have allayed fitness fears, giving Tuchel a full complement of senior options as he rotates his squad through the group stage.
For Saka, the wait goes on. The player is ready; the manager is not — yet.