Despite injury concerns about Saka heading into the international break, Gareth Southgate selected the attacker in his squad to face Australia and Italy.
There is a strong sense at Arsenal that Saka would benefit from a rest after Sunday’s game against champions City, regardless of whether he is deemed fit enough to face Pep Guardiola’s side.
Saka limped off in the first half of Tuesday’s 2-1 Champions League defeat in Lens, suffering with a suspected minor hamstring strain and a blow to his thigh.
The 22-year-old’s fitness is being assessed on a day-by-day basis ahead of Sunday’s game against City at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal and England medics have already spoken about Saka’s availability and Southgate has decided to select the winger, although the manager has admitted the situation could change.
He’s still being assessed as they’ve obviously got a big game this weekend and then there’s another seven days before we play Australia and 11 days before we play Italy, so everybody will monitor everything as we go forward,’ said Southgate.
Arsenal and England medical staff plan to speak after Sunday’s game to discuss whether Saka should remain part of the international squad this time around.
