How Arsenal plan to recover Bukayo Saka for Chelsea clash
- Bukayo Saka currently recovering from hamstring injury
- Winger ruled out of England duty
- Arsenal want him ready to face Chelsea next week
By Sean Walsh
Arsenal are hopeful that Bukayo Saka will be able to return from a hamstring injury in time to face rivals Chelsea on October 21.
The winger picked up the issue in the first half of last Tuesday's 2-1 loss at RC Lens in the Champions League.
Though Mikel Arteta suggested he was in contention to face Manchester City on Sunday, Saka was not named in the matchday squad for the Gunners' eventual 1-0 victory.
Arteta decreed post-match that Saka would not join up with the England squad for the October internationals, but the FA wanted to carry out their own medical assessments. Following checks on Monday, Saka was then sent home from St George's Park.
The Evening Standard now report that Arsenal have laid out a training plan with Saka in hope that he will be fit in time to take on Chelsea. The Gunners travel to Stamford Bridge next Saturday evening in their first game back after the international break.
Saka will undergo rehab sessions at Arsenal this week before having the weekend off. They will then decide if he can return to training next Monday, with both the club and player 'optimistic' of his chances of a comeback at Chelsea.
England, meanwhile, have decided not to call up another forward in Saka's absence, with Raheem Sterling again overlooked despite his solid start to the 2023/24 season.
Arsenal will still be represented in Gareth Southgate's squad by Aaron Ramsdale, Declan Rice and Eddie Nketiah.
Saka is not the only Arsenal player that has been ruled out of international duty due to injury, with Leandro Trossard and William Saliba picking up minor problems in Sunday's match against Man City.
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