Thomas Tuchel just threw cold water on any lingering injury panic around Bukayo Saka. With England set to face Ghana in a pivotal World Cup group-stage match, the manager confirmed the Arsenal forward is fully available. That whole thing about an Achilles problem that had fans sweating since March? Not an issue anymore, apparently.
Saka has been managing an Achilles tendon issue for months now. It surfaced back in March 2026 and forced the England staff to handle his workload carefully through the tail end of the Premier League season and the Champions League. He played through it. He started games. He finished them. But the concern was always there, especially with a World Cup on the line. So when reports popped up suggesting he might be in trouble ahead of the Ghana game, people understandably got nervous.
Tuchel, though, shut that down pretty quickly during his press conference on Monday. He said every single player trained without restrictions and there are no injury concerns in the squad. That includes Saka.
“Everyone is available, everyone was in training,” Tuchel said. “Bukayo is getting better and better. He’s more and more free in his movements. He feels no more pain. He was able to do both our training sessions the last two days on the highest level. So he’s ready to go without telling you if he will start on the bench.”
Saka had been doing individual work with the medical staff earlier in camp but joined full team training in Foxborough, Massachusetts after England’s 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas. He only played 18 minutes in that match as a substitute. That was likely by design. Now he’s looked sharp in consecutive full sessions and appears to be past the worst of it.
The timing matters here. England sits at the top of Group L, but Ghana is a physical, organized team that won’t make things easy. Having Saka available — and not just available but pain-free and moving well — gives Tuchel a real weapon out wide. He can start him if he wants. He can bring him off the bench if he wants. Either way, it’s a much better problem to have than scrambling for a replacement.
Saka turned 24 this year and has become one of the first names on the team sheet for England. His ability to beat defenders, draw fouls, and create chances is exactly what you want against a Ghana side that will sit deep and try to counter. If he’s truly feeling no pain and moving freely, that’s a best-case scenario for Tuchel.
England finishes group play against Panama after this. So getting Saka minutes against Ghana — whether starting or off the bench — could help him build rhythm before the knockout rounds. That’s assuming England takes care of business first.
Tuchel didn’t tip his hand on the lineup, but the message was clear: Saka is good to go.
Leave a Comment