Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka was forced to withdraw from England’s squad through injury ahead of Sunday’s away game against Finland.

The fleet-footed forward started on the right wing of Lee Carsley’s new-look attacking lineup for Greece’s Wembley visit on Thursday night. Saka was not the only English player to struggle during a 2-1 defeat against the well-organised visitors, failing to create a single chance while attempting just one shot during the 51 minutes he was on the pitch.

Shortly after Vangelis Pavlidis gave Greece a deserved lead in the 49th minute, Saka required treatment on the pitch before hobbling off while nursing a blow to his right leg. Immediately after the match, Carsley revealed that the Arsenal winger was being assessed, adding: “Obviously in the build-up to the first goal, you can see he felt something in his leg.”

England confirmed on Saturday morning that Saka would not be part of the squad travelling to Helsinki for Sunday’s UEFA Nations League clash with Finland. The durable 23-year-old, who has started every match for the north London outfit this season, would instead return to Arsenal’s training facilities to be assessed by the club’s medical department ahead of next weekend’s return to Premier League action.

The Gunners head down to Bournemouth next Saturday before the resumption of Champions League football with the visit of Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday, 22 October. Liverpool then travel to the Emirates Stadium the following weekend, but the Reds have suffered some personnel complications of their own during this month’s international break.

While Alexis Mac Allister linked up with Argentina’s international team despite fitness concerns and Alisson missed out entirely on Brazil’s fixtures with a hamstring issue that will sideline him for several crucial games, Liverpool’s Curtis Jones also pulled out of England’s trip to Helsinki. Rather than any injury issues, the dextrous midfielder pulled out of the squad “owing to a personal commitment”.

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