Whether you support any team, if you enjoy football you will inevitably love Bukayo Saka.
Though he possesses such amazing strength on the ball under pressure and a habit of rolling defenders and winning free-kicks, at 5ft 8in Saka is not the most impressive figure.
His capacity to go both ways is one of his strongest weapons; he is equally delighted to go on the outside as he is cutting inside. Comfortable on their right, left-footed athletes like Saka are a collector’s item and provide his opposite number something extra to consider.
His discipline really speaks to me as well. If Saka goes through a quiet spell of the game when he is starved of service, he is not tempted to search for the ball.
He stays to his position, disregards the need to drop into midfield or meander into the No 10 post to get on the ball. His amazing numbers in front of goal support his knowledge that he is most dangerous out on the flanks. With his final product and his figures, Saka is rather consistent; with regard to goals and assists, they always rank highest.
England winger Bukayo Saka is a superb player but he will absent against Finland due to injury
Although his experiment against Greece failed, Lee Carsley has an opportunity to correct matters.
Though I would be more concerned if I were Mikel Arteta and Arsenal than Lee Carsley and England, seeing him stagger off the Wembley pitch while clutching the back of his leg on Thursday night was a disgrace.
Carsley is blessed with outstanding choices across the attacking line, as has been well-documented. Although Gabriel Jesus may be a perfect stop-gap since some of his best performances in a Manchester City shirt came out on the right, it’s somewhat harder for Arsenal to replace that vacancy.
Regarding England, Phil Foden or Cole Palmer would be more than suited for filling Saka’s right versus Finland. For their clubs, both have performed with distinction in that role.
Sunday is about returning to English foundations. Playing players in roles they are not accustomed with on Thursday, Carsley took a great risk that finally backfired.
Many have been calling out for both him and Gareth Southgate to have Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Saka on the same team but it simply didn’t work. Rather, Carsley should consult the blue print he utilized in his first two games in command.
Two midfielders, a left-footed left back against Ireland, a No 10 performed as a 10 and a striker performed as a striker. Though it sounds absurd, that provides balance and is why I expect Carsley to return to what he knows against the Finns. it’s just the way it has to be; if it means upsetting one or two superstars because he cannot fit them all on the team then so be it.
Carsley should not be harshly punished for being audacious against Greece. He is still in the early years of his managing career; occasionally, you only know whether something will work by trying it. However, what you can accuse him of is not acting at half-time when it was abundantly evident England was in crisis.
With Saka out, Carsley could start either Phil Foden (left) or Cole Palmer (right) on the right wing
The game against Finland is a great chance for Carsley and England to bounce back
Fitting Jude Bellingham (above), Saka, Foden and Palmer on the same team presented challenges.
Carsley ended up in a cul-de-sac with remarks about returning to manage Under-21 team, so I doubt he helped himself post-match either. Following a loss can be challenging, but England supporters are eager to be persuaded and those remarks sow uncertainty in people’s minds about whether he is the appropriate man for the position.
Sunday presents England and Carsley with a fantastic chance for fast recovery. In international football, where you can occasionally spend months without games, that is a luxury you are not always privileged with. A performance bursting with vitality with England’s creative stars on the ball, running the show, and scoring goals would help to put the Greece catastrophe to rest.