Gary Neville says Bukayo Saka “doesn’t look right at all” as Ian Wright suggests the England winger may have been rushed back from a persistent Achilles issue. Saka has played all three group matches, including 2-0 vs Panama where he came through for just over
By the time England started thinking about the knock-out stages, the conversation around Bukayo Saka had already turned from football to fitness.
Gary Neville made the worry sound blunt. Speaking on Stick to Football. brought to you by Sky Bet. the former England defender said Saka “doesn’t look right at all.” Neville pointed to what he expected to see from the winger—his usual edge. his usual spark—and instead described a player who wasn’t matching his reputation. “He’s usually the boy that’s bubbling and smiling. he’s got that competitive edge to him. but he’s not right and that’s a concern to us I think.”.
Ian Wright echoed the same concern from a different angle, questioning whether Saka had been pushed back too quickly. Wright suggested the Achilles problem may have been “rushed back” for the World Cup. arguing that Saka still didn’t look like the player England know. “We’re going into a World Cup. and still not starting the first few games. only starting when we’re three games in. and still isn’t looking like the Saka that we know – this guy needs a break. ” Wright said.
The issue isn’t new. Saka has been dealing with a persistent Achilles problem managed by the FA after he played through pain during Arsenal’s run-in to the end of last season. Even so, he featured in all three of England’s group stage matches. He came on from the bench against Croatia and Ghana. then started against Panama. before playing just over an hour in the 2-0 victory.
England boss Thomas Tuchel had already admitted earlier this month that Saka had been unable to train on consecutive days—an admission that now sits uncomfortably alongside how heavily England are leaning on their wide players.
In the first two group games. England had struggled to create from wide positions. and that’s where the pressure is starting to intensify. Wright and Roy Keane both stressed that England’s wingers. including the likes of Anthony Gordon. will need to raise their game as the tournament enters the business end.
Wright said: “I can’t remember too many tournaments where you’re feeling like you’re on the edge, I feel like that’s normal. But there are a lot of people [in the England squad] who are not up to speed. Our wingers, and the way we depend on the wingers are not doing well enough.”
Keane added a sharper demand. “The wingers need to grab their opportunity. These players [wingers] haven’t quite grabbed their opportunity yet. In the group games, you can maybe slip up in one of them, but now at least one of them has to start turning up.”
Saka’s own stance going into the World Cup was clear. He admitted he was “happy to gamble” with his fitness. describing the decision as something players have to weigh even when they’re not feeling at their sharpest. “As players, it’s the biggest gamble, especially if you’re not feeling your sharpest,” Saka said. “You have the choice whether you don’t play or you put yourself out there knowing people are going to judge you the same. I’m happy to take the gamble. It paid off, I’d say. I’m going to continue doing that. At the end of the day, people don’t really care how you’re feeling, they expect you to deliver.”.
At Arsenal, his game-time had been carefully managed in the closing weeks of the season, with the winger completing the full 90 minutes in just one match since mid-March.
Now the stakes are higher. England will face DR Congo in the last-32 on Wednesday in Atlanta. A win would set up a last-16 tie against either co-hosts Mexico or Ecuador at the Azteca in Mexico City—exactly the kind of stretch where the difference between “being out there” and “being right” can change everything.
The group phase has already asked questions about England’s width and chance creation. With Neville insisting Saka “doesn’t look right at all” and Wright wondering if he’s been rushed back. those questions have narrowed into one: can England trust their star winger’s body and his output at the same time when the tournament stops forgiving?.
Bukayo Saka Gary Neville Ian Wright England World Cup Achilles problem Thomas Tuchel DR Congo last-32 Atlanta Anthony Gordon Roy Keane
Saka just needs to sit, right? Achilles sounds nasty.
I saw this headline and was like oh here we go, players rushed back again. But if he played all those games then why are they acting surprised now?
Not right at all… sounds like Neville is just mad he’s not doing step-overs or something. Also Wright said “rushed back,” but didn’t he play anyway? Maybe he’s fine and everyone’s overreacting.
Honestly World Cups do this every time, they push guys to play like it’s nothing. If he’s got an Achilles thing, starting him in Panama but then worrying later is kinda backwards. I don’t even know why England wouldn’t rotate him earlier, like save him for the knockout. Then again, coaches always think they know better than the body, so…