Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka has been forced to withdraw from the England squad for their upcoming friendly matches against Brazil and Belgium due to an unspecified injury. Saka, who has become a key player for England under manager Gareth Southgate, will miss the Euro 2024 warm-up fixtures as a result of his injury setback.
The friendlies against Brazil and Belgium are set to take place at Wembley on Saturday and Tuesday of next week, respectively. These games will be England's last before Southgate announces his final squad for the May European Championship.
Saka's withdrawal from the England team comes at a pivotal moment for Arsenal, who lead the Premier League and are preparing for a matchup with Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals.
Saka's exit from the England camp was officially announced by the Football Association in a statement that said, "Bukayo Saka has left the England camp and returned to his club for continued rehabilitation." It went on to say that Saka was unable to take part in training because he had reported to St George's Park injured.
No replacements are planned for Saka, as the 25-man England squad continues its preparations for the upcoming friendlies.
Prior to his departure, Saka had been engaged in individual rehabilitation work indoors, alongside Harry Kane, Cole Palmer, and Jordan Henderson, highlighting the proactive approach taken by the England team to address player injuries and fitness concerns.
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