The 24-Year-Old Who Carried England Is Still Hurting and Nobody's Talking About It Enough

Remember Bukayo Saka? Four years ago, at just 21, this kid was electric, netting three goals in four World Cup matches and dragging England all the way to the quarterfinals. Now, he's 24, and guess what? He's still battling an Achilles injury that first flared up in March while he was grinding with Arsenal in the Premier League. England manager Thomas Tuchel, speaking on Tuesday, is preaching patience, and honestly, who can blame him? This isn't just some nagging ache; this is a star player's health in the crucial early stages of a World Cup cycle!

Tuchel's Tricky Tightrope Walk

Tuchel is in a tough spot, no doubt. He confirmed that Saka *could* suit up for England's friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando on Wednesday. But then he immediately walked it back, suggesting it might not be ideal. The real goal, the coach said, is to have our guy fully charged and ready for England's Group L opener against Croatia on June 17. That's the one that really matters, right? Tuchel was pretty clear, saying, "We still have to take care a little bit with Bukayo, who had an injury in the March camp and carried it through to his club campaign." You know that feeling when your team's best player is just not quite right? That's what's happening here. Saka participated in Tuesday's practice, but he sat out Monday's. It's a constant balancing act. "He is at the moment not able to do every training session through the week and then play," Tuchel explained. He's available, yes, but he needs "management to be fully, fully 100 percent, which he is not. But he is on a high level." That's a good sign, but "not 100 percent" when you're facing down the world's best? That's a tough pill to swallow.

A Season of Grit and Lingering Pain

This isn't new territory for Saka. He's a warrior. Despite that nagging Achilles, he played on a regular basis for Arsenal, the Premier League champion, through their entire campaign. Think about that for a second! His last match was a Champions League final on May 30, where Arsenal took a tough loss to Paris Saint-Germain on penalty kicks. Saka started that game and played through the 82nd minute. He hasn't found the back of the net since May 5, when he scored the lone goal in Arsenal's win over Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their semifinal. That's a player who knows how to deliver in big moments, even when he's hurting. But the question remains: how much is that constant grind going to affect his performance when England needs him most? So, while Wednesday's friendly against Costa Rica might give us a glimpse, the real test is still ahead. All eyes are on June 17, when England kicks off their Group L campaign against Croatia. Can Saka shake off this injury and be the explosive, game-changing forward we know he can be? England's hopes might just depend on it.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.