Arabic version: ساكا يتدرب بمفرده بينما تستعد إنجلترا لمواجهة غانا

Bukayo Saka was the only player not involved in group training as England continued preparations for their second match of the World Cup against Ghana. According to BBC News, the Arsenal winger spent Saturday’s session indoors working on an individual programme as he continues to deal with an Achilles issue he has been managing since March.

England meet Ghana in Boston on Tuesday (21:00 BST) with both sides having started Group L with a victory. Head coach Thomas Tuchel was on the training pitch at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City with 25 of his 26 players as baseball team the KC Royals watched on alongside opponents St Louis Cardinals after the two had played on Friday night.

Saka came off the bench in the 4-2 win over Croatia on Wednesday, and provided an assist to fellow substitute Marcus Rashford for England’s fourth goal. Tuchel had previously indicated that Saka would require managing through the opening stages because of what is understood to be an Achilles tendinitis issue.

Despite Saka’s insistence that he was ready to play, Tuchel suggested that the 24-year-old is unlikely to start until the final Group L game against Panama in New Jersey on Saturday, 27 June (22:00 BST). Tuchel affirmed, “Bukayo is ready and will get more and more ready,” hinting at the forward’s importance for the latter stages of the tournament.