Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka will not join the England squad for their upcoming Nations League match against Finland in Helsinki after sustaining an injury during Thursday’s 2-1 defeat to Greece at Wembley.
Saka left the match in the 52nd minute after he appeared to pull his right hamstring while attempting to deliver a cross. The 22-year-old looked visibly upset as he sat on the pitch, waiting for medical staff to attend to him. After the match, England U21 manager Lee Carsley confirmed that Saka would undergo a scan to assess the extent of the injury. “He’s under assessment,” Carsley said in his post-match press conference, noting that Saka felt discomfort in his leg during the lead-up to Greece’s opening goal.
The news adds to a challenging night for England, as they succumbed to two goals from Vangelis Pavlidis, further dampening the morale of an experimental lineup. Following the match, the Three Lions confirmed that Saka would return to Arsenal for further evaluation, skipping the Sunday kick-off at 5 PM against Finland.
In addition to Saka, Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones has also returned home from St George’s Park for personal reasons. Jones had recently earned a call-up to replace Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo, who withdrew from the squad along with Ezri Konsa and Morgan Gibbs-White due to injury.
Mikel Arteta and Arsenal fans will be anxiously awaiting updates on Saka, who has been pivotal for the Gunners this season. The right-winger has tallied three goals and seven assists in 10 appearances, taking on an expanded leadership role within the team. His absence could significantly impact Arsenal as they prepare for their next Premier League fixture against Bournemouth on Saturday evening.
Saka played a crucial role in Arsenal’s 3-1 victory over Southampton last weekend, contributing with two assists and scoring a goal himself. When asked about the possibility of resting Saka, who has started every match this season, Arteta acknowledged the need to manage the player’s workload, stating, “There is and we have taken him off a couple of times this season. But at the moment he’s in a good place.”
Looking ahead to the Finland match, Carsley admitted that England would likely abandon their experimental approach. “We probably won’t try that again on Sunday,” he said. “Had Harry [Kane] been fit, I might have gone down another route.” Carsley confirmed that Kane was training with the squad and is a crucial component of the team’s strategy, as they seek to bounce back in the Nations League.
