Omanghana
England winger Bukayo Saka followed an individual indoor training program on Saturday as the Three Lions carefully manage his ongoing Achilles tendinitis ahead of their pivotal 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L encounter against Ghana.
The 24-year-old was the only player in Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man squad not to participate in the main outdoor session at England’s training base at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, with the coaching staff opting for a cautious approach to his recovery.
England Taking No Risks with Saka
Saka has been dealing with an Achilles issue since March, an injury that affected the closing stages of his domestic campaign with Arsenal. While the winger remains available for selection, England manager Thomas Tuchel has made it clear that the medical team is closely monitoring his workload to avoid aggravating the problem.
Tuchel has indicated that Saka is not yet ready to complete a full 90 minutes and is expected to be used strategically during the group stage to ensure he is fully fit for the knockout rounds.
The England boss has suggested the winger may continue to feature primarily as an impact substitute before potentially returning to the starting lineup for the team’s final Group L match against Panama on June 27.
Instant Impact Off the Bench
Despite his limited minutes, Saka has already demonstrated his value at the tournament.
He came off the bench in the 72nd minute of England’s 4-2 opening victory over Croatia and made an immediate contribution by setting up Marcus Rashford’s late goal, helping seal an impressive start to the Three Lions’ World Cup campaign.
His creativity and pace remain key assets as England look to secure early qualification for the knockout stages.
Positive News Elsewhere in the England Camp
While Saka trained separately, England received encouraging updates regarding several other members of the squad.
Marcus Rashford returned to full training after recovering from a minor knock sustained during the victory in Dallas and showed no lingering effects during Saturday’s session.
Midfielder Declan Rice also completed training without restrictions, reinforcing expectations that he will anchor England’s midfield against Ghana.
Meanwhile, defender Trevoh Chalobah joined the full squad for training for the first time since arriving late to the team’s World Cup camp earlier in the week, providing Tuchel with additional defensive options.
High Stakes Against Ghana
England’s next challenge comes on Tuesday, June 23, when they face Ghana at Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium in Foxborough) in a match that could prove decisive in the race for top spot in Group L.
Both teams enter the contest with three points after winning their opening fixtures. England began their campaign with an entertaining 4-2 victory over Croatia, while Ghana, coached by Carlos Queiroz, edged Panama 1-0 to make a winning start.
With qualification for the knockout stage potentially within reach, Tuchel will balance the need for results with the importance of preserving the fitness of key players such as Saka for the latter stages of the tournament.
Source: Omanghana
