Gary Neville has never been one to sugarcoat his observations, and his latest assessment of Bukayo Saka should make Gareth Southgate sit up and take n...
Gary Neville has never been one to sugarcoat his observations, and his latest assessment of Bukayo Saka should make Gareth Southgate sit up and take notice. According to GoalZaza, the former Manchester United captain has publicly questioned the Arsenal winger's condition, suggesting that the young man 'doesn't look right at all' ahead of England's knockout clash with DR Congo. That is a damning verdict on a player who, just a year ago, was the poster boy for England's attacking renaissance.Let's look at the facts. Saka has featured in all three group games, yet his contributions have been curiously muted. He came off the bench against both Croatia and Ghana, then was handed a starting berth in the comfortable 2. 0 win over Panama. On the surface, that suggests gradual integration, a manager managing minutes during the congested group phase. But watch the games back, and you see something else. His first touch has been heavy. His decision making in the final third has been sluggish. The sharp, incisive runs that terrorised Premier League defences have been replaced by hesitant, sideways passes. Is this a crisis of confidence, or is there something deeper at playSouthgate has built his tactical system around transitional play and rapid ball progression. Saka, at his best, is the perfect outlet for that approach, offering width, directness, and a willingness to drive at defenders. But if he is not right physically, he becomes a passenger. And in a tournament where margins are razor thin, carrying a passenger could prove catastrophic. England cannot afford to have a player who, as Neville put it, looks out of sync when the defensive blocks get tighter and the space shrinks to nil.The obvious counter argument is that Saka has earned the benefit of the doubt. He has been one of England's most reliable performers in recent years, and form is temporary. But the World Cup is no place for sentiment. If Southgate persists with a man who is clearly labouring, he risks unbalancing the entire right flank. The dressing room will be watching. The fans will be watching. And most importantly, DR Congo's full backs will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing a subdued version of the Arsenal star.This is squeaky bum time for Saka. He needs to find his spark, and fast. Otherwise, a place in the starting eleven could become a memory rather than a certainty. And for a player of his immense talent, that would be a genuine waste.
