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<\/p>\nGareth Southgate will not risk Bukayo Saka\u2019s fitness<\/p>\n
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Bukayo Saka will miss England\u2019s upcoming internationals with Australia and Italy, the Football Association has confirmed.<\/p>\n
The Arsenal attacker was called up to Gareth Southgate\u2019s squad on Thursday, despite concerns over his fitness after being substituted in recent matches at Bournemouth and Lens.<\/p>\n
Saka subsequently sat out Arsenal\u2019s 1-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday with a hamstring issue and club boss Mikel Arteta said afterwards the 22-year-old would have to pull out of the England squad.<\/p>\n
Saka met up with England\u2019s medical staff at St George\u2019s Park on Monday and it has now been confirmed he will return to Arsenal for further treatment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe forward reported to St George\u2019s Park on Monday alongside the rest of the Three Lions\u2019 squad,\u201d an FA statement read.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving missed Arsenal\u2019s Premier League win against Manchester City on Sunday through injury, Saka was assessed by the England medical team and it was decided the player would continue his rehabilitation at his club.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo replacements are planned with Gareth Southgate having a squad of 25 players to work with.\u201d<\/p>\n
Southgate\u2019s side host Australia in a friendly at Wembley on Friday night before they take on Italy in London next Tuesday.<\/p>\n
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Saka has withdrawn from the England squad<\/p>\n
Southgate had stated on Thursday he would take no risks with Saka despite the Italy clash being a crucial European Championship qualifier.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can only go via what Mikel (Arteta) has said about the last few games,\u201d Southgate said earlier this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe look after the players as well as any country. There\u2019s always a focus on our players because they are playing their club football, in the main, in England and then we are playing here as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhereas all the other countries call the players that are playing in the Premier League and nobody looks at how they look after them and how they train them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we have really good dialogue with all of their clubs, I think they pretty much all would agree that we probably give better feedback than every other nation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have trust in us that we make decisions that are right for the long term whenever we can. We only have 10 matches a year. And there\u2019s been times when\u2026 Bukayo, for example, we haven\u2019t always played.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut there are certain key games where, if it\u2019s possible to have your best players, then you do want to have them.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we\u2019ve got that responsibility of qualifying for the country but\u2026 I\u2019ve been a player\u2026 I\u2019ve never ever taken a risk on a player\u2019s physical wellbeing. And nor would I.\u201d<\/p>\n