Saka: I'm ready to go

Bukayo Saka says he’s fit and “ready to go” for England’s first game of the World Cup after battling back from injury.

The winger suffered hip and achilles problems during the season, limiting him to just 25 Premier League starts as Arsenal won their first title in 22 years.

Saka's minutes were managed during the run-in, which also saw the Gunners reach the UEFA Champions League final, and he featured as a substitute in the Three Lions' 3-0 warm-up win over Costa Rica in Florida last week.

And with England's World Cup opener with Croatia looming, the 24-year-old insists he's prepared to start in Dallas if called upon by head coach Thomas Tuchel. 

Speaking about his injury problems during a press conference at England's Kansas City training base, Saka said: "As players, it’s the biggest gamble, especially if you’re not feeling your sharpest.

"You have the choice whether you don’t play or you put yourself out there knowing people are going to judge you the same.

"I’m happy to take the gamble. It paid off, I’d say. I’m going to continue doing that. At the end of the day, people don’t really care how you’re feeling, they expect you to deliver. But I am feeling a lot better than I did in March and I’m ready to go.

"The main focus right now is winning the World Cup. And being my best version of myself for the team."

Saka also had his say on his relationship with club and international team-mate Noni Madueke, who he is competing with for a spot on the right wing in Tuchel's starting lineup. 

The pair have become close at the Emirates Stadium, and Saka insists he'll be delighted for his "brother" should he play ahead of him at any point during the tournament. 

"It's quite unique, two players that play in the same position to be as close as we are," Saka said.

"I don't really know how it works, but it works. Noni is like my brother on and off the pitch. We push each other and we speak every day.

"We have that mutual respect for each other and we want each other to do well. The good thing is that we play on the same team and that if one of us is doing well it is good for the other."

The best place to stay close to the England squad in North America this summer is via the official England app, where we'll have all the latest news from camp and exclusive videos before anywhere else. Make sure you download the app, via Apple Store or Google Play, and register now.