Arsenal talisman believes he is back in great shape after the frustration of missing three months of last season with a hamstring problem that required surgery
Bukayo Saka on the pitch
Bukayo Saka was out for just over three months after sustaining a hamstring injury at Crystal Palace just before Christmas
(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Bukayo Saka has opened up on the physical AND mental strain of dealing with the first serious injury of his stellar career. The 23-year-old Arsenal talisman missed just over three months of last season after going under the knife for a hamstring problem on Christmas Eve.
And the England attacker admitted he had brief doubts about whether he would be as thrillingly effective following the surgery.
Saka explained: “The first two days were the toughest - that realisation that I’ve got what I’ve got and I need an operation. You start to think … am I going to be the same?
"Players have come back from this injury and weren’t the same. But after two days, the surgery was done and successful and you just look forward.
"I was really positive and put in all the work I needed with my diet, in the gym, on the pitch. I feel I’ve come back in a good place. It is about how much you want it - and I wanted it a lot. I knew the games I was coming back to and wanted to be in the best shape possible which is why I did everything.”
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And that included taking the decision to have the operation in the middle of the festive period. He recalled: “It was horrible. Normally, you get more time to make a decision.
"But it was going to be Christmas, the surgeons want to be with their families, so I decided on the spot that we were doing the surgery. It was about deciding whether I was going to be there on Christmas Day and, obviously, that was the last thing I wanted.
“So I had to do it at 5am on Christmas Eve. Credit to the surgeon - he got up early to do it. I was out of the hospital at about 3 or 4pm and home. Christmas Day, I went to my cousin’s house but I was in a big brace and had crutches.”
Bukayo Saka of Arsenal is instructed by Mikel Arteta manager / head coach of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Manchester, England.
After losing him just before Christmas, Mikel Arteta was able to welcome Bukayo Saka back in early April
And Saka, who had a new cockapoo puppy named Tucker that he struggled to play with, turned to a motivational book to help him through the tough rehabilitation process, explaining: “One of the books I was given was called The Power of Now. It’s about not thinking about the past, not thinking about the future - just being in the moment and always asking yourself what’s necessary right now.
"Sometimes I can think … am I going to come back in the best shape?’ Or … what could I have done to prevent injury? But all that is not necessary.
"It’s only going to bring bad energy, negativity to your body. One of the best things I took from the book is to always ask yourself what’s necessary in this moment and try to live that way.”
Bukayo Saka during England training on Monday
Bukayo Saka during England training on Monday(Image: PA)
Saka returned at the start of April for the later stages of Arsenal’s Champions League campaign, which ended in defeat to eventual winners Paris Saint Germain at the semi-final stage. He has already got over the disappointment of that loss.
“There was no time to ease in, it was straight into big games,” he said. “I had to do my best, the team did their best and we fell short. It is what it is now but there is no point looking back now, we look forward and know what we have to do next year.”
And, in the immediate future, Saka is looking forward to winning his 44th England cap in the friendly against Senegal at the City Ground. It will be his first appearance under Thomas Tuchel and Saka is impressed with the new manager.
Saka said: “Since I’ve come into the camp, he’s been quite demanding, quite intense on the pitch. Off the pitch, he’s more relaxed, a nice guy. He lets us enjoy ourselves and has created a nice environment.”
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