Gareth Southgate sends clear Bukayo Saka message as Arsenal star handed new England role

Bukayo Saka has been known as as much as play for England over the approaching worldwide break.

The 19-year-old will be a part of up with Gareth Southgate’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers towards San Marino, Albania and Poland.

It is the third time the Arsenal teenager has been known as as much as the Three Lions’ senior facet this season after making his debut towards Wales in October, earlier than occurring to function in all three of the matches over the past break in November.

However, there’s a slight distinction to the way in which Saka has been known as up this time that highlights how essential a role he has to play within the England arrange going ahead.

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In his earlier 4 caps for his nation, the Hale End graduate has been performed as a wing again regardless of naturally being a winger.

This is as a results of the flexibility that noticed him break into the Arsenal facet as a left again earlier than the COVID pandemic introduced the footballing world to a halt final 12 months.

As a end result Saka was down on the England squad listing as a defender.

However, for the reason that festive interval the 19-year-old – who spent a lot of this season as a left wing again in Mikel Arteta’s 3-4-3 system – has been moved over to the appropriate wing.

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The positional change has seen him step up his sport to a different stage, scoring 5 objectives and aiding 5 extra for the reason that Gunners’ 3-1 win over Chelsea on Boxing Day.

It’s a testomony to how effectively he has performed within the role that he has now been listed as a ahead in Gareth Southgate’s squad moderately than as a member of the again line.

Considering the competitors from the likes of Raheem Sterling, Jack Grealish, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and lots of others that is an unbelievable feat for the teenager.

Despite his England name up Saka is unlikely to start out for Arsenal once they tackle Olympiacos on Thursday night although attributable to a hamstring harm he picked up within the North London Derby victory over Spurs on the weekend.

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Speaking forward of the Europa League conflict Mikel Arteta admitted that the harm was not as severe as first thought, however that the versatile winger confronted a race towards time to be out there for the sport.

“He was having one other check. He felt one thing muscular,” mentioned the Gunners boss on Wednesday afternoon.

“He’s been doing a lot, significantly better and evolving very well so we are going to make the choice this afternoon on what we are going to do.”

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