Bukayo Saka has resumed full training with England ahead of their World Cup fixture against Ghana, offering a fitness boost to manager Thomas Tuchel. The Arsenal forward participated in the team’s penultimate session on Sunday after restricting himself to individual drills on Saturday.
Despite his return to collective training at the squad’s base, Saka remains unlikely to feature from the start when England face Ghana in Boston on Tuesday. Tuchel has indicated that the 24-year-old is not expected to start until the third group match against Panama.
Tuchel’s Cautious Timeline
The England manager is managing Saka carefully as the player continues to nurse Achilles tendinitis. Saka began the opening match against Croatia on the substitutes’ bench, watching from the sidelines as England secured a 4-2 victory.
Tuchel has publicly ruled out throwing Saka into the starting eleven for the Ghana clash, instead targeting the Panama fixture for his first potential start of the tournament. This cautious approach suggests the medical staff are unwilling to accelerate his return to full competitive intensity.
Injury Background
The Achilles issue has troubled Saka for an extended period, dating back to the closing weeks of Arsenal’s Premier League campaign. Staff at the north London club monitored the condition closely during their title-winning run-in but deemed the winger fit enough to continue featuring regularly.
The problem has not deteriorated since the domestic season concluded, though Tuchel is taking no risks with a player who represents a key attacking asset for the national team.
Group Stage Picture
England’s meeting with Ghana represents their second outing in the tournament. A positive result would strengthen their position ahead of the final group game, potentially allowing Tuchel to ease Saka back gradually without jeopardising qualification hopes.
Should the manager maintain his stated timeline, supporters can expect to see Saka either limited to substitute appearances against Ghana or rested entirely, with Panama providing the opportunity for his first start of the competition.