Bukayo Saka wants to play through the pain, but Thomas Tuchel isn't letting him.
After sitting out group training over the weekend to follow an individual indoor program, the Arsenal winger returned to normal training with the England squad on Sunday. It's a massive boost for the Three Lions ahead of their second World Cup Group L clash against Ghana in Boston.
But if you think this means Saka will be in the starting lineup on Tuesday, you're mistaken.
Tuchel has a clear plan for the 24-year-old, and it involves a lot of patience. Saka has been battling Achilles tendinitis since March. While he insists he's ready to gamble on his fitness to help England win the World Cup, his manager is looking at the bigger picture. Tuchel already hinted that Saka won't see a starting spot until England's final group stage match against Panama on June 27.
It's a smart strategy. Pushing a player with an elite workload past his breaking point in June is how tournament campaigns fall apart.
Inside the Thomas Tuchel injury plan
Managing a tournament squad means balancing adrenaline with basic anatomy. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta ran Saka ragged during the club's successful Premier League title run-in, often keeping the true extent of the winger's injury behind closed doors. But international tournaments don't offer the luxury of a week-long recovery between matches.
The data shows why caution is necessary. Saka came off the bench against Croatia on Wednesday and looked incredibly sharp, setting up Marcus Rashford's late goal to seal a 4-2 victory. He can clearly be an effective weapon in short, explosive bursts.
The current state of Group L gives England some breathing room.
| Team | Played | Points | Goal Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 1 | 3 | +2 |
| Ghana | 1 | 3 | +1 |
| Panama | 1 | 0 | -1 |
| Croatia | 1 | 0 | -2 |
With three points already secured, rushing Saka back against a physical Ghana side makes very little sense. The African giants won their opening match too, meaning Tuesday's game will be intense. If England can secure a draw or a close win without overworking Saka, they set themselves up perfectly for the knockout stages.
What this means for your fantasy team and betting lines
If you're managing a fantasy squad or looking at the prop bets for the Ghana game, don't count on Saka playing more than 20 to 30 minutes.
Expect Cole Palmer or Jarrod Bowen to occupy that right-wing spot from the opening whistle. Rashford's goalscoring cameo against Croatia also complicates things for the starters, as Tuchel has plenty of healthy options who can hurt teams out wide.
The smart move here is to look at Rashford or Jude Bellingham for your goal contributions this week. Leave Saka out of your starting lineups until the Panama game, where he'll likely get the nod to build up his match fitness before the round of 16.
Next steps for England fans
Keep an eye on the final pre-match press conference on Monday. Tuchel will likely confirm his tactical setup and give a final update on Declan Rice and Marcus Rashford, who have also been carrying minor knocks.
The match kicks off on Tuesday, June 23, at 9:00 PM BST (4:00 PM EST). You can catch the live broadcast on ITVX in the UK or Fox Sports if you're watching from the United States.
