Nketiah: Saka predicted my national team call-up

Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah has revealed that his fellow teammate, Bukayo Saka, was sure he would get called to the English national team ahead of Euro 2024 qualifiers against Ukraine and a friendly against Scotland.

The striker scored just four goals in 30 Premier League games for Arsenal last season, but he’s already scored two in four games for the Gunners this season, earning him a call-up to the England national team for the first time.

Nketiah said he’s worked hard to get to this level, but Saka believed he was close to a call-up to the national team.

“He was buzzing; he was so happy for me. To be fair, he told me during the week that I had a good chance of making the squad. When I got the text, it was surreal. I’m usually a calm guy, but I did lose a bit of composure for 10 seconds. It was an amazing moment. It’s been a long journey, and obviously, I’ve worked hard to get here, so it’s nice to have that step and recognition,” Eddie Nketiah said.

Gareth Southgate excluded Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling from the team, but despite injuries and withdrawal by Jack Grealish and Trent Alexander-Arnold from the squad due to injury, he’s instead called up the youngster to train with the senior national team. Southgate called up Lewis Hall, Bashir Humphreys, and Alfie Devine to join in training.

England squad

Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)

Defenders: Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Lewis Dunk (Brighton & Hove Albion), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Al-Ettifaq), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (Arsenal)

Forwards: Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), James Maddison (Tottenham), Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Callum Wilson (Newcastle United).

Daniel Ademiju Idowu