Tuchel: Saka still recovering, needs careful management for World Cup

Bukayo Saka is still not at 100% fitness as he recovers from an Achilles injury sustained in March, England manager Thomas Tuchel revealed Tuesday. The forward played through discomfort for Arsenal at the end of the season, helping them secure their first Premier League title in over two decades and reach the Champions League final.

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Bukayo is still getting there, playing through discomfort at the end of the season, but obviously managing it and playing at a high level, but still not at 100%. He is the one we are building and taking care of in training.

"Bukayo is still getting there, playing through discomfort at the end of the season, but obviously managing it and playing at a high level, but still not at 100%," Tuchel told reporters. "He is the one we are building and taking care of in training."

Tuchel noted that Arsenal managed Saka's injury well, allowing him to play decisively even when not fully trained. "They brought him back against Fulham when the season and title was on the line, and he was straight away decisive," he said. "And then they decided together, Bukayo and Arsenal, to let him play through his pain and discomfort, even if it was not possible to train the whole week in the build-ups."

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They brought him back against Fulham when the season and title was on the line, and he was straight away decisive.

Saka's fitness is a key concern for England's World Cup campaign, which begins on June 17 against Croatia. He has previously represented England in the 2020 and 2024 European championships and scored three goals in four appearances at the 2022 World Cup.

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And then they decided together, Bukayo and Arsenal, to let him play through his pain and discomfort, even if it was not possible to train the whole week in the build-ups.