Tuchel Managing Saka Carefully As England Step Up World Cup Preparations

• Thomas Tuchel says England are carefully managing Bukayo Saka’s workload after the Arsenal winger carried an Achilles problem through the closing months of the season.
• Saka has trained with the squad in Florida but remains on an individual fitness programme ahead of the World Cup.
• Tuchel praised Arsenal’s Premier League-winning quartet, saying they arrived in camp confident and refreshed after their remarkable season.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has revealed Bukayo Saka remains under careful fitness management ahead of the World Cup after battling an Achilles problem throughout the latter stages of Arsenal’s title-winning campaign.

Saka joined England’s training camp in Florida alongside Arsenal teammates Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze after being granted additional time off following last weekend’s Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

While the winger is available and training with the squad, Tuchel admitted England’s medical staff are still monitoring his workload closely.

“We still have to take care a little bit about Bukayo,” Tuchel said ahead of England’s final public warm-up match against Costa Rica in Orlando.

“He had an injury in the March camp and carried it through, of course, into his club campaign.

“He was available and made himself available in the end of the season, and did this brilliantly, but he was managed in-between matches and that continues a little bit at the very moment, so we’re building him up.”

Saka missed England’s March friendlies because of the issue and was carefully managed by Arsenal during the run-in. Despite helping drive Mikel Arteta’s side towards a historic campaign, he started only five matches during the closing weeks of the season and completed a full 90 minutes on just one occasion.

England are determined not to take any unnecessary risks with one of their most important attacking players as preparations intensify ahead of the tournament.

There was more positive news elsewhere for Tuchel.

“Noni is 100% available, Declan is 100% available and Ebs as well,” he said.

“Everyone was involved in training, including Bukayo. Everyone made himself available, so we have a full choice and we need to take the decisions now in the afternoon who actually starts, and how many minutes we will give to the players.

“But they came in a very good spirit and they came in very good shape.”

The Arsenal contingent arrive in the United States carrying the confidence of a season that brought the club’s first Premier League title in 22 years.

Although they fell short in Europe after a penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest, Tuchel believes the experience has only strengthened them.

“I feel them proud, I feel them confident,” he said.

“They know what they did, they know what it took them to win the title in England.

“They had this little period where suddenly it was in doubt and they overcame it and managed to win the title.

“It meant a lot to them.”

Tuchel also suggested Arsenal’s narrow Champions League final defeat had reinforced their belief rather than damaged it.

“I think they have a clear understanding that they went toe to toe with the best team in the world at the moment with Paris, and they had them, and they just lost in a penalty shootout.

“They came in best spirits and I’m happy for that.”

England’s final preparations continue this week with a friendly against Costa Rica before a behind-closed-doors fixture against Miami United.

Tuchel expects the players he considers closest to his starting XI to feature for between 60 and 70 minutes in Orlando, with the remainder of the squad receiving opportunities in the private match the following day.

With the World Cup now just days away, the focus is shifting from preparation to selection.

For Saka, the challenge is slightly different. England know how important he will be this summer. The priority now is ensuring he arrives at the tournament fully fit, fresh and ready for the biggest stage of all.