ARSENAL are hoping to reach a compromise with England over Bukayo Saka’s involvement over the upcoming international break.
Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions have a friendly against Australia at Wembley next Friday before a crunch Euro 2026 qualifier with Italy.
GettyArsenal want talks with Gareth Southgate over Bukayo Saka[/caption]
Arsenal star Saka, 22, has become a key man for England over recent years and was this week named in the latest squad for the two clashes.
But the Gunners are sweating on the fitness of their star man going into tomorrow’s huge Premier League showdown with champs Manchester City.
Saka was forced off in last weekend’s 4-0 win at Bournemouth but still started Tuesday’s Champions League defeat in Lens.
Mikel Arteta’s misery was escalated further in that setback when Saka limped off after suffering both hamstring and thigh issues.
Arteta said yesterday that his attacker is only in “contention” to play against City as club medics hope that he can return to training as normal today and emerge unscathed for Sunday.
However, Arsenal still believe that Saka will benefit greatly from a lighter workload and have “communicated” that message to England staff ahead of him reporting for international duty.
That is according to the Daily Mail, who state that Southgate could rest the ace against Australia.
They state talks are planned between the respective medical teams that will “centre around a potential agreement that would see Saka report to St. George’s Park as normal next week but undertake a significantly tapered training programme”.
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That plan also means that Saka will “not start against the Aussies”.
It is then hoped that he will only return to full training on Saturday with a view to taking on a heavier workload prior to the Italy game.
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