Arsenal Star Bukayo Saka Excluded from England Squad Ahead of Andorra Clash
In a notable development for English football, Arsenal’s talented forward Bukayo Saka has not been included in the squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Andorra, scheduled for Saturday at 17:00 BST.
Alongside Saka, Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins have also been omitted from the matchday roster. Watkins will be returning to his club due to a minor injury concern.
England’s head coach Thomas Tuchel addressed the media on Friday, revealing that Saka had managed to complete only one full training session during the week. This limited participation likely influenced his exclusion from the squad and raises questions about his overall fitness.
At just 23 years old, Saka has yet to take the field under Tuchel, having missed the German coach’s initial training camp due to injury complications. His absence from the Andorra match leaves uncertainty about his potential involvement in the friendly against Senegal set for June 10, where he hopes to add to his 43 caps for the national team.
Saka had previously missed three months of action due to a hamstring injury between December and April but made a comeback for the final stretch of the season.
In a related note, Watkins’ early departure is purely precautionary due to his minor injury, while Gallagher’s situation remains ambiguous, with no specific details regarding a potential fitness issue.
On a positive note, England’s national team has had a strong start in World Cup qualifying, securing victories in their first two matches against Latvia and Albania.