England boss Thomas Tuchel confirms Bukayo Saka injury scare days before World Cup

Bukayo Saka is a huge injury worry ahead of the World Cup. England boss Thomas Tuchel admitted Saka is struggling with an Achilles problem and may not be ready to start the tournament.

Saka reported up late for England’s training camp but did do his own personal fitness work last weekend but is clearly behind the rest of his Arsenal teammates Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze who were also given extra time off after the Champions League final.

Tuchel said: “Declan is on 100 per cent and 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 on his 100 per cent.

“He is the one we are building and taking care of in training, but Declan is 100 per cent, Ebs is 100 per cent, Noni is 100 per cent.

“Bukayo is just not there yet. Some things are missing, consecutive training. They took very good care of him and were very aware of it at Arsenal, and we will do a little bit the same.

“So, step by step, he is at the moment not able to do every training session through the week and then play. He is still going to be managed.

“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.

“He was decisive in the second leg against Atletico Madrid to bring them to the final, he played the final. But like I said, he was managed in between, and this is what we do.

“The player and his needs and health are always first, so what we are doing now, we were monitoring on his week off and now we are bringing him back on the pitch.

“Yesterday, he was not with us, today he was and did the full training session. He is available for tomorrow, but he needs management to be fully, fully 100 per cent, which he is not.

“I think it is very unlikely Bukayo starts and finishes all the matches from now on.”

Saka is always one of England’s most reliable and consistent players and his fitness is a worry ahead of the final friendly with Costa Rica on Wednesday.

Tuchel plans to start what he believes will be close to his starting XI to face Croatia on June 17 and any players who do not get minutes will play a behind-closed doors game with Miami FC on Thursday.

Tuchel added: “We have to play Costa Rica and this is very different from what Croatia will offer, but we will give players 60-70 minutes to play (and) to be ready for Croatia.”