Bukayo Saka England injury update as Arsenal face anxious wait

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 10: Bukayo Saka of England during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League B Group B2 match between England and Finland at on September 10, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Why are England wearing black armbands against Greece
Bukayo Saka started in England's loss to Greece at Wembley (Image credit: Getty Images)

Arsenal are facing a nervous wait on Bukayo Saka's fitness after the winger limped out of England's defeat to Greece at Wembley on Thursday night.

The Gunners forward was replaced in the 51st minute by Chelsea winger Noni Madueke after he went down on the turf following Greece's opening goal. The 23-year-old had initially pulled up when trying to deliver a cross.

Saka was holding his right hamstring in discomfort, although the exact nature of his injury is not yet known. So is he now a doubt for Arsenal's next league match?

Will Bukayo Saka be fit to play against Bournemouth?

Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 match between Arsenal FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Emirates Stadium on October 01, 2024 in London, England.

Saka has captained Arsenal this season (Image credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images)

England interim boss Lee Carsley gave an initial update on Saka following the full-time whistle at Wembley.

Carsley said: "He’s being assessed. Obviously in the build-up to the first goal, you can see he felt something in his leg."

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 10: Lee Carsley, Interim Manager of England, looks on during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League B Group B2 match between England and Finland at Wembley Stadium on September 10, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan - The FA/The FA via Getty Images) England Nations League squad

Lee Carsley may be without Saka for Sunday's game with Finland (Image credit: Getty Images)

England next face Finland on Sunday, with Saka due to undergo a scan on Friday, although there has been no word from the Three Lions camp so far over his availability for that game.

If Saka doesn't make the Carsley's matchday squad, Arsenal fans will face an anxious wait to see if he is able to return within a week, with the Gunners facing Bournemouth on Saturday October 19, in a 17:30 kick-off.

Although the results of the medical assessment remain unconfirmed, Arsenal and England fans hopes were raised after the game.

Saka was spotted walking through the media mixed zone following the game without assistance. However, the Arsenal forwards' movement could be described cautious at best.

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Should Saka miss out against Finland, Carsley could hand a first start to Chelsea winger Madueke, who has replaced Saka as a substitute in the last two England games.

Arsenal are already without fellow talisman Martin Odegaard through injury, while Kai Havertz has also withdrawn from the Germany squad due to a knee injury, giving Mikel Arteta a number of selection headaches over the international break.

Jack Lacey-Hatton
Freelance writer

Jack has worked as a sports reporter full-time since 2021. He previously worked as the Chief Women’s Football Writer at the Mirror, covering the England Women’s national team and the Women’s Super League. Jack has reported on a number of major sporting events in recent years including the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup on the ground in Australia. When not writing on football, he can often be spotted playing the game somewhere in west London.