Bukayo Saka heaps praise on 'special' England stars as Three Lions run riot in Croatia | OneFootball

Forward notched two confidence-boosting goals in huge victory

Arsenal star Bukayo Saka hailed the impact of two of his England team-mates after he scored twice in Saturday’s 7-0 thrashing of Croatia.

Saka scored his 18th and 19th goals for his country and missed a late chance to make it a hat trick as England were in seventh heaven against Slaven Bilic’s Croatia in their Nations League fixture in Rijeka.

But the Gunners winger was keen to deflect the adulation onto Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon when he spoke to ITV after the match.

Bellingham scored once and assisted three further goals in England’s blistering victory, while Gordon grabbed one goal and one assist to make it a strike in each of his last four appearances for his country.

“He deserved [England] player of the year and he probably deserves man of the match tonight as well. He was special.

Dynamic duo: Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham

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Saka was then asked whether he agrees that Gordon, the Barcelona forward, has stepped up for his country in recent months.

“Another player who is also on fire in an England shirt,” Saka said.

“It is nice to have players like that around you.”

England face the Czech Republic at Wembley on Tuesday in their fourth and final match of the international break before the return of club football next weekend.

Saka will return to Premier League champions Arsenal with boosted confidence after his two-goal showing in Rijeka, with the Gunners back in action against Leeds on Saturday, October 10.