Euro 2020: England star Bukayo Saka doubtful for quarter-final after injury scare in training

England are sweating over the fitness of winger Bukayo Saka after he picked up an injury during training on the eve of the their Euro 2020 quarter-final. Saka will face a fitness test on the big matchday against Ukraine, manager Gareth Southgate confirmed.

The 19-year-old Saka started England’s last two games, against the Czech Republic and Germany, on the right flank and if fit would have a strong chance of starting against Andriy Shevchenko’s side at the Stadio Olimpico.

“We’ve just got to check on Bukayo who had a slight knock today, but other than that everybody is available,” said Southgate when asked about his team’s fitness.

Southgate not worried about potential suspensions

England have four players – Harry Maguire, Declan Rice, Kalvin Phillips and Phil Foden – who would be suspended for a possible semi-final if they were booked against Ukraine.

However, Southgate laughed off the prospect of the situation affecting his team combination for the quarter-finals.

“I don’t really understand that rationale. I understand strategically you might like to do that but I can’t think of a country in the world that would like to do that for a quarter-final, especially not a country that has only been to three semi-finals in its history,” he said.

“So, no, we’ve got to focus on tomorrow (Saturday). It would be a big error for us to think of anything else and an insult to Ukraine as well. We won’t make any decisions based on yellow cards. We play to win and we have to have everyone available.”

England have played all their games on home turf, including before a 40,000 crowd at Wembley for Tuesday’s win over Germany, but Southgate said a change of scenery could help his team.

“Actually, I think it’s good to come away from Wembley now and it would have been hard to replicate the atmosphere that we had the other day,” he said.

“Three days later. I think to have a different focus, different surroundings, different sort of a challenge is good for us,” he said.