Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka has confessed he faced moments of doubt about his fitness after sustaining a hamstring injury earlier in the season.
The 23-year-old, who is of Nigerian descent, returned to action as a second-half substitute in England’s recent 3-1 defeat to Senegal.
Despite being a consistent performer for both club and country in recent years, Saka revealed he questioned whether he would be able to return to his previous levels following the setback.
Reflecting on his mindset during recovery, Saka said: “It’s about not thinking about the past, not thinking about the future. Just being in the moment and always asking yourself—what’s necessary right now?”
He noted that worrying about outcomes only breeds negativity: “Sometimes I can think: ‘Oh, am I going to come back in the best shape?’ Or, in the past: ‘What could I have done to prevent injury?’”
Saka stressed that learning to focus on the present helped him cope with the mental challenges of recovery.
“One of the best things I took from the book is always ask yourself: ‘What’s necessary in this moment right now?’ And try to live that way,” he added.
Having been instrumental in Arsenal’s title push and a mainstay in Gareth Southgate’s squad, Saka admitted last season did not end on a satisfactory note for him personally.
“I was not happy with last season, how it went, how it ended,” he said. “But the only thing I can do now is look forward and try and be the best version of myself and help my team-mates be the same.”
