Bukayo Saka's chances of playing vs Man City being judged day-by-day
Bukayo Saka leads an England injury crisis with Arsenal winger set to have a scan on his hamstring on Thursday ahead of Man City clash on Sunday
- Gareth Southgate may be unable to pick Bukayo Saka for England this month
- England’s squad for the October internationals is being announced on Thursday
- Click HERE to listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s ‘It’s All Kicking Off’
Bukayo Saka leads a worrying England injury crisis with the Arsenal attacker a doubt for Sunday’s clash against Manchester City.
The Gunners winger suffered a suspected hamstring tweak against Lens on Tuesday night, though medics are hopeful the injury isn’t serious. He also took a blow to the thigh in France.
He will undergo further medical tests on Thursday following an initial scan on Wednesday.
The best case scenario for Saka is that he has suffered a painful dead leg, nevertheless the prospect of the attacker playing against City – and in the forthcoming international fixtures against Australia and Italy – would represent a risk.
As of Wednesday night, Saka was not being completely ruled out of Sunday’s visit of Pep Guardiola’s team – but his chances of playing are being judged on a day-by-day basis.
Bukayo Saka was substituted with an injury during Arsenal’s Champions League defeat by Lens
Gareth Southgate is set to name his England squad for October’s internationals on Thursday but will have to pick from a depleted pool of players with several stars out with injuries
Saka is not being completely ruled out of Sunday’s crunch Premier League fixture against Man City, but his chances of playing are being judged on a day-by-day basis
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But generally, even minor hamstring injuries can take two weeks to recover.
England boss Gareth Southgate was being kept updated on Saka’s fitness on Wednesday as he finalised plans ahead of Thursday’s squad announcement.
Southgate is set to name a depleted squad due a host of injuries to players in recent weeks.
In addition to the doubts over Saka, England will be without a recognised left-back with Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell unavailable through injury.
Brentford’s Rico Henry, who has been scouted as an alternative to Shaw and Chilwell, is also unavailable through injury.
Levi Colwill, who has been playing at left-back for Chelsea this season, will keep his place in the squad as will Kieran Trippier, who has played in the position consistently for England.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, who missed the previous squad with a hamstring injury, is also set to return and could fill in at left-back.
Crystal Palace left-back Tyrick Mitchell, who has one England cap, could come back into contention but sources have indicated there are some reservations about handing him a recall.
Eberechi Eze will miss out on the squad with the injury hamstring first revealed by Mail Sport on Tuesday.
Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell will not be available for England having suffered a hamstring injury
Crystal Palace star, Eberechi Eze (middle), is also set to miss out after he also sustained a hamstring injury
But Southgate is interested in calling Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon into the squad
Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon is among the players interesting Southgate and Eze’s injury could open the door to the attacker. Mason Mount has returned to full fitness with Manchester United.
It remains to be seen whether there is space for Raheem Sterling, particularly with Jack Grealish available again after missing out through injury in September.
There are also fitness concerns over Newcastle striker Callum Wilson, with Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins pushing hard for a recall.
Jordan Henderson is hoping to keep his place in the squad despite his move to Saudi Arabia.
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