Bukayo Saka Trains Alone As England Prepare For Ghana Clash, Thomas Tuchel Says

England head coach Thomas Tuchel said Bukayo Saka is managing an achilles problem and is not ready to complete a full 90 minutes yet as England trained in advance of Tuesday’s game against Ghana.

“ANI |Updated:Jun 21, 2026 00:57IST Massachusetts [UK], June 21 (ANI):Englandwinger Bukayo Saka missed Friday's (local time) training session ahead of his side's World Cup clash againstGhana, with the Football Association stating that he is following an individual programme as he continues to manage anAchilles injury, according to Reuters”

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The BBC reported Saka was the only player not involved in group training, spending Saturday’s session indoors working on an individual programme as he continues to deal with an Achilles issue he has been managing since March.

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Tuchel also said Saka is unlikely to start until the final Group L game against Panama in New Jersey on Saturday, 27 June (22:00 BST), while the Guardian said Saka looks likely to start on the bench again as he works his way back towards full fitness.

England’s preparations included training at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City with 25 of his 26 players present as the KC Royals watched on alongside opponents St Louis Cardinals, and the BBC said Saka came off the bench in the 4-2 win over Croatia and provided an assist to Marcus Rashford for England’s fourth.

The Guardian added that Marcus Rashford and Declan Rice gave England a boost by training in advance, with Rice going off in the 72nd minute after feeling discomfort in his lower back and upper hamstring.

Jude Bellingham tied his World Cup anthem moment to family, telling the Guardian that “I think the anthem is the last chance you get to really be mindful of the people who have got you there and what it means to be from England,” as England prepared for Ghana.

The Telegraph said Bellingham was reminded of his patriotic grandfather when he sings God Save the King at World Cup, and it quoted him saying, “He was an Englishman through and through. He could give you every fact about every war, every battle, every king and every queen.”

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While England’s on-field focus remained on Ghana, the Guardian reported that Saka stayed indoors to work on an individual programme at England’s training base in Kansas City on Saturday, indicating that Noni Madueke will start again on the right when England face Ghana in Boston.

The Guardian also described how Rashford complained of a minor muscular problem after coming on and scoring the fourth goal against Croatia, and it said Rice went off in the 72nd minute after feeling discomfort in his lower back and upper hamstring.

In the BBC’s account, Tuchel’s stance was that “Bukayo is ready and will get more and more ready,” and the BBC said Tuchel’s comments suggested Saka could start against Ghana if required.

England are top of their group after an impressive second half against Croatia, and the BBC said England meet Ghana in Boston on Tuesday (21:00 BST) with both sides having started Group L with a victory.

The Guardian reported that England returned to training after being given a day off on Friday, and it said Rashford looked in good shape and Rice appeared to be moving freely as Tuchel ran passing drills.

The ANI report said Saka missed Friday’s training session ahead of England’s World Cup clash against Ghana, with the Football Association stating he is following an individual programme as he continues to manage an Achilles injury, and it added that Tuchel has repeatedly emphasised the importance of carefully managing the 24-year-old’s workload throughout the tournament.

The BBC said Tuchel was on the training pitch at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City with 25 of his 26 players as the KC Royals watched on alongside opponents St Louis Cardinals after the two had played on Friday night.

With England scheduled to conclude their group-stage fixtures against Panama, the BBC said Tuchel indicated Saka is unlikely to start until the final Group L game against Panama in New Jersey on Saturday, 27 June (22:00 BST), while the Guardian said Saka is still being treated with caution as England weigh whether to use him off the bench again.