Saka Fitness Concern as Tuchel Weighs World Cup Readiness

England manager Thomas Tuchel has flagged concerns over Bukayo Saka's fitness as preparations intensify for the forthcoming World Cup campaign. The 24-year-old Arsenal winger is still working his way back from an Achilles problem sustained in March, which he managed to play through during the run-in as the Gunners clinched their first Premier League title in over twenty years.

Saka featured in the Champions League final defeat to Paris St Germain on penalties, continuing to perform despite the discomfort. Tuchel acknowledged the forward's professionalism but indicated the England medical team will adopt a cautious approach to his recovery in the coming weeks.

"Bukayo is still getting there, playing through discomfort at the end of the season, but obviously managing it and playing at a high level, but still not at 100%. He is the one we are building and taking care of in training," Tuchel told assembled reporters on Tuesday.

The England boss revealed that Arsenal had managed Saka's workload carefully, often unable to train fully during match weeks. However, when the title was on the line against Fulham, the winger returned and made an immediate impact. Tuchel confirmed that Saka and the club had jointly agreed to push through the discomfort for the remainder of the season.

Saka's availability could prove decisive for England's tournament hopes. The attacker has featured in both the 2020 and 2024 European Championships, and netted three goals across four appearances at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

England's World Cup challenge begins on June 17 in Dallas against Croatia, a rematch of their 2018 semi-final encounter. Despite bookmakers rating the Three Lions among the tournament favourites, Tuchel struck a more measured tone about his side's prospects.

"We're not the top favourites. We can't be, because we haven't won it for so, so many years," he explained from Florida ahead of a final warm-up fixture against Costa Rica.

The German drew a striking comparison to tennis, suggesting England's position mirrors an accomplished player without a Grand Slam title arriving at Wimbledon. Whilst such a competitor cannot be considered favourite, they certainly possess the capacity to triumph. Tuchel stressed the importance of maintaining focus rather than attempting to process the entire tournament at once.

"Once you reach the quarter-finals, you can go all the way," he added, reflecting on lessons learned from his Champions League experiences at club level.

The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, with Tuchel emphasising the need for a measured mindset and attention to immediate objectives. Despite his cautious framing, the manager reiterated the squad's collective belief and determination to pursue the trophy that has eluded England since 1966.