England handed huge injury boost as Arsenal star Bukayo Saka returns ahead of Ghana | OneFootball

Arsenal forward had been training alone amid persistent injury problem

Bukayo Saka was back in full training on Sunday in a major boost to England ahead of their second group game against Ghana.

Saka had been considered a doubt for the game in Foxborough, Massachusetts as the FA medical team manage the lingering Achilles injury he suffered in March.

He was the only member of Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man squad who did not take part in the full session on Saturday, instead undergoing his own individualised training programme as his load is managed.

But Saka trained in full on Sunday, two days out from the Ghana game, in a positive development.

It comes after Ollie Watkins revealed in a press conference on Sunday that Arsenal star Saka has taken at least some part in every training session England have conducted at their Swope Soccer Village base in Kansas City since beating Croatia 4-2 in their opening game.

Injury worry: Bukayo Saka

PA

Saka came off the bench to assist fellow substitute Marcus Rashford for the fourth goal in that victory at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Watkins said of Saka: “I'm not in the physio department, but he hasn't missed a day of training, so I think that's a good thing.

“I think he's played so many games throughout these last few years, you can see, because he's a crucial player for Arsenal and very important because he's a top quality player and it brings quality to the pitch for Arsenal and England.

“He is very important, as everyone can see, so I think managing niggles going into a competition is very important for the later stages. You need important players like him to be ready to play and step up when called upon.”