Bukayo Saka ‘set to START for England against Senegal – with Phil Foden or Marcus Rashford missing out’, report claims… as Gareth Southgate keeps his cards close to his chest
Gareth Southgate is reportedly ‘set to start Bukayo Saka‘ during England’s last-16 World Cup clash against Senegal.
According to Sky Sports, the 21-year-old, who scored twice during England’s opening game against Iran, will make his return to the starting line-up after he was benched during the Three Lion’s convincing 3-0 win over Wales in midweek.
Despite featuring during England’s 0-0 draw against the USA last weekend, Saka failed to find the back of the net and was replaced by Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford on Tuesday night.
Bukayo Saka (pictured) is ‘expected to start for England during their last-16 match vs Senegal
Either Marcus Rashford (right) or Phil Foden could be set to make way for the Arsenal attacker
But it seems either Foden or Rashford could now have to make way for the Arsenal man, with Sky Sport’s senior reporter Melissa Reddy suggesting that Southgate may have had this interchange planned all along.
‘Despite all the talk of an unchanged line-up, Saka is set to start,’ Reddy said. ‘So one of Phil Foden or Marcus Rashford is expected to miss out.
‘The fact Saka was rested in the last game, perhaps means this was always planned.
Foden (pictured) dazzled on Tuesday night, picking up his first
‘That leaves a talking point over what Southgate will do elsewhere in attack. Foden and Rashford both offer something different – Rashford is direct but Foden’s grace and dynamism on the ball was on show against Wales.
‘But I don’t think there will be many complaints about Saka’s inclusion.’Raheem Sterling is also someone Southgate trusts, and Southgate has never started a knockout game without him; the Sterling-Kane combination has been one of the bedrocks of his management.’
