England head coach Thomas Tuchel has ruled out Bukayo Saka from starting against Ghana on 24 June, easing the Arsenal winger back into the World Cup after carrying Achilles tendinitis into the tournament. Saka came off the bench against Croatia and instantly created the fourth goal for Marcus Rashford in England's 4-2 opening win, but Tuchel is protecting his fitness for the latter stages.
Tuchel said: "Bukayo is ready and will get more and more ready. I think once we go to the last game of this group he will be ready." The statement signals Saka will not start until England's final group match against Panama in New Jersey on 27 June, though he remains available as an impact substitute against Ghana.
The 24-year-old's condition has not deteriorated since Arsenal's title run-in, but Tuchel's confirmation of a managed rotation strategy suggests England can manage the group stage without fully deploying Saka from the start. Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon are the likely alternatives on the left flank against Ghana.
Saka's absence from Ghana's starting XI reflects Tuchel's broader squad management: rotating fit players through group matches while protecting key assets for knockout football. With Ghana a winnable fixture, England can afford to ease the winger in gradually.
England's attacking depth and Saka's benching for Ghana may influence markets on goal expectation and corner counts in the group match. The confirmed timeline for his full integration also signals Tuchel's tactical confidence in his wide alternatives for lower-ranked opponents.
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