Roy Keane explains why Bukayo Saka should not start for England at World Cup as ideal backup named | OneFootball

Arsenal winger set to be usurped by his team-mate amid ongoing Achilles problem

Roy Keane feels Bukayo Saka should not start for England at the World Cup after ‘losing his spark’ amid an ongoing Achilles injury.

The Arsenal winger played just under half an hour as England eased past Costa Rica in their final pre-tournament warm-up friendly on Wednesday evening.

He had been expected to be Thomas Tuchel’s first choice on the right wing at the World Cup, but, after Saka and his Arsenal team-mates joined up with the national camp, the England boss made the surprise revelation that he is still not 100 per cent fit with an Achilles injury which kept him sidelined for a number of weeks during the run-in.

"We have to take care with Bukayo who had an injury in the March camp and carried it through to the club campaign,” said Tuchel. “He made himself available and was brilliant. He was managed in between matches – we are also building him up. That continues at the moment."

Injury worry: Bukayo Saka

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For Keane, Saka’s fitness has dulled his attacking prowess, and he wonders whether he will be able to start when England face Croatia in their World Cup opener next week.

“I don’t know. The only thing I’ve seen from Saka tonight, the few opportunities he’s got to go past someone, to me he’s lost that spark a bit,” said the former Manchester United midifelder on ITV’s match coverage.

“The timing isn’t great if he’s kind of carrying an injury, maybe that might cost him a little bit.

Understudy: Noni Madueke

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“I do think he’s lost his spark. There’s a couple chances he had there on the edge of the box to go past people and he didn’t do that, and that might be a little worry for the manager.”

Ian Wright interjected, suggesting Noni Madueke as an alternative despite the fact he hit the woodwork when presented with an open goal against Costa Rica: “I think if Madueke, if he scored that goal in the first half, some of the movement he showed, that might have swung it for him.”

Keane continued, saying Tuchel had plenty of cause for optimism after England’s two friendly victories but that the team must step up once the tournament proper gets going.

“Sometimes these games confirm what you already know. You obviously learn about the players. He said he likes the attitude, the urgency, but there’s more quality to come.

“He spoke about the levels but he also knows deep down that they need to go up three or four levels against Croatia. That’s the challenge.

“Everything is going along lovely, but that doesn’t guarantee you a big performance against Croatia, because those boys are warriors.”