Arsenal of England’s fast-rising winger, Bukayo Saka has put himself in strong contention for a shirt with The Gunners’ in Thursday’s UEFA Europa League clash with Eintracht Frankfurt of Germany, as he returned to training with the main team, megasportsarena.com reports.
After missing out of action last weekend, due to a knock copped in The Gunners’ previous match, Saka is back running with his colleagues, as if to confirm a prediction by former Arsenal star, Charlie Nicholas that the Nigerian-born lad would be ready to battle the German visitors.
Even at a point it appeared Saka might lose the race against fitness, Nicholas declared that the 18-year-old lad would play for The Gunners against Frankfurt on Thursday despite concerns over a knee injury he copped while on international duty with England’s under-19 team.
The injury ruled Saka out of Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Southampton last weekend in the English Premier League, but Nicholas stressed that the youngster will be back to battle the German side he first starred against in September, before also starting versus Mikel Ndubuisi Agu’s Vitória de Guimarães of Portugal at the commence of Europe’s second-tier clubs’ competition.
Unai Emery’s team need only avoid defeat against their German opponents at the Emirates Stadium in London to progress to the round of 32 of the Europa League.
True to Nicholas’ declaration, Saka is seemingly in contention for his third appearance in this season’s Europa League, as he joined training with his teammates in their final session at London Colney before Thursday’s MatchDay five fixture at Emirates Stadium.
Though Saka had initially been rated as doubtful for Thursday’s game, he is now in contention for a spot in The Gunners’ starting eleven, but may have to edge aside either Nicolas Pépé or Reiss Nelson in the battles for roles down either side of the wings against Frankfurt.
One way of the other, Nicholas believes the Nigerian-born lad will get a look in on Thursday, and stated emphatically in his column for Sky Sports: ”I look at the schedule of what Emery normally does. Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, Dani Ceballos and Joe Willock will play.”
