Bukayo Saka injury latest: Arsenal concern, Gareth Southgate admission

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka continues to be nagged by an Achilles injury that dogged him last season, according to recent reports.

The 22-year-old has played 84 consecutive Premier League matches in a row for the Gunners, a club-record. But that is clearly having some ill-effects on his body, with England boss Gareth Southgate deciding to give him a rest during Tuesday night's clash against Scotland.

So, football.london has rounded up everything that has been reported on the Hale End academy graduate's current fitness status below.

Latest concern

According to the Daily Mail, Saka is still being nagged by an Achilles injury that bothered him during the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

As a result, he was named on the bench for Tuesday night's friendly against Scotland.

Southgate admission

England boss manager Gareth Southgate previously revealed the issue back in June following Saka 's unforgettable hattrick against North Macedonia.

Speaking about the youngster's goals after that game, Southgate said: "We weren't surprised by the first one, that's how he's been all week, we hadn't seen the second one coming. I am delighted for him.

"He's had a slightly sore Achilles and it's another one where it would have been easy to lull out on the camp and miss out on a night like this that I'm sure will live with him forever."

The Three Lions boss continued: “He’s had it for a few weeks. It is an injury that just needs managing... when you’ve had one of the best nights of your life, it’s a reminder that it’s worth going through these things.”

Sir Alex Ferguson warningFormer Liverpool striker Michael Owen has previously warned Saka and other youngsters that managers play an important role in protecting their players

As a 19-year-old Owen ruptured his hamstring back in 1999, an injury that would massively impact him later in his career. "I wish it had been a broken leg,” he told the Daily Mail. "The worst injury for me was a snapped hamstring because back then you didn't operate, you just allowed them to reattach.

"I was running with two hamstring muscles in my right leg and three in my left for the rest of my career. It was a point of weakness

“I often wonder if it was just a freak injury. Until then I was solid as a rock, never missed a game. Sir Alex Ferguson always says if I’d signed for Manchester United as a kid it wouldn’t have happened, he would’ve protected me."


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