Bukayo Saka is primed for Saturday’s FIFA World Cup quarter-final, as England face Norway at 10pm UK time.
Our right winger has found minutes slightly hard to come by throughout the tournament so far after nursing an achilles injury picked up in March, coming off the bench in games against Croatia, Ghana and DR Congo, although he did play 64 minutes of the Three Lions’ 2-0 victory over Panama, providing an assist for Jude Bellingham’s opening goal of the game.
It was his second assist of the World Cup, after setting up Marcus Rashford against Croatia.
Most recently, Saka got another 57 minutes under his belt when he started England’s 3-2 win over Mexico, in which he provided another assist for Bellingham.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s showdown with Norway against Martin Odegaard and co, Saka discussed his fitness: "Of course, I would have loved to come to this tournament 100 per cent, but that wasn’t the case and everyone’s realised that. They’ve managed me in the best way possible. But right now, I’m feeling great and I’m ready to go.
"Each game has been unique for me, but my mindset doesn’t really change much. Whether I come on or I start, I just try and do what the game needs, whether it needs a goal, whether it needs the team to defend, whatever it needs. It’s about winning. That’s my mindset."
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Mexico provided a tricky test for Thomas Tuchel’s side, but the five-goal thriller was well worth staying up for as it kicked off at 2am in the UK. Bellingham fired England into a two-goal lead only for Julian Quinones to reduce the arrears with half-time approaching.
Harry Kane made it 3-1 from the penaly spot after Jarell Quansah’s red card meant England were reduced to 10 men. Raul Jimenez planted a seed of doubt again with his own penalty strike but England held on admirably to advance.
"We discussed that we need to put the drama and the emotions of the Mexico game behind now,” Saka said.
“We soaked in all the praise and everything that came with it, but now we need to focus on Norway, which is going to be another tough challenge, a different challenge. We’re fully focused and I’m positive that we’ll win."
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