Arsenal attacker Bukayo Saka insists that he is not the answer to the left-back issue for England at Euro 2024.
Arsenal attacker Bukayo Saka has insisted that he is not the answer to the left-back issue for England.
Luke Shaw was brought to the European Championship in the hope that he might be able to recover from the muscular problems which caused him a lot of issues for Manchester United last season.
However, Shaw has been unable to prove his fitness, with Kieran Trippier therefore being used as a left-back in England’s Euro 2024 campaign thus far.
Trippier has emerged as a doubt for Sunday’s last-16 clash with Slovakia due to a calf issue, with Ezri Konsa believed to be on standby to feature at left-back if the Newcastle United defender does not recover.
However, ex-Arsenal forward Ian Wright recently claimed that England boss Gareth Southgate should consider using Saka in that role, as the 22-year-old started his career as a left-back.
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Saka not keen on left-back switch
Such a move would, in theory, allow Southgate to bring Cole Palmer into the side, with the Chelsea attacker impressing off the bench against Slovenia last time out.
However, Saka has said that ‘putting him out of position is not the solution’.
“No, obviously I love Ian Wright and he says so many great things about me but I don’t think putting me out of position is the solution,” the Arsenal attacker told BBC Sport.
“But at the end of the day, I think we can we can talk about this but it’s in Gareth’s hands so we will just have to trust whoever Gareth selects on the day.”
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Saka hails Southgate amid recent criticism
Saka also hailed Southgate for creating “an amazing environment” in the England camp amid the criticism of the head coach from sections of the supporters.
“I think he has created an amazing environment here, if you asked me and asked a lot of the players they would definitely say ‘I look forward to coming and every time I’m selected I’m buzzing and can’t wait to meet us with the boys’,” he added.
“When we came into the tournament we wanted to qualify first and we have done that, it is job done.
“We leave the group stage behind now and it is the knockout stages, every game is massive and we are just focused on Slovakia now and trying to win that game and go to the next round.”
Saka scored 20 times and registered 14 assists in 47 appearances for Arsenal during the 2023-24 campaign, but he has thus far found it difficult to make his mark for the Three Lions at Euro 2024.
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