Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka has been ruled out of England’s Nations League trip to Finland and sent back to his club for assessment on an injury picked up in the defeat to Greece.
Saka played 51 minutes of England’s 2-1 defeat at Wembley before being replaced by Chelsea’s Noni Madueke.
“Curtis Jones and Bukayo Saka will not travel to Finland,” read an England statement. “Saka has returned to Arsenal for further assessment having been substituted during the second half of Thursday night’s match against Greece. Liverpool’s Jones remains in England owing to a personal commitment.” A squad of 22 will fly to Helsinki on Saturday afternoon.
The news is another blow to the Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who lost his captain, Martin Ødegaard, to ankle ligament damage sustained during the last international break. The Gunners are also sweating on the fitness of Kai Havertz and Thomas Partey, who have also withdrawn from international duty this week.
Liverpool’s Jones was a late addition to Lee Carsley’s squad before the Greece game but was an unused substitute. Harry Kane was one of 22 players who trained on Saturday, increasing hopes the England captain will be fit after missing Thursday’s game.
Kane could not overcome a knock picked up playing for Bayern Munich in time to feature and his absence prompted the interim manager, Carsley, to deploy an eyebrow-raising formation that featured Jude Bellingham playing as a false nine in front of Phil Foden, Saka, Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon.
It backfired as Greece stunned the hosts to move top, leaving England no room for any more slip-ups if they want to win the group and return to League A automatically. The clash with Finland kicks off at 5pm BST on Sunday at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki.
