The England national football team is set to face Ghana in their next World Cup match, but Bukayo Saka is unlikely to start due to ongoing Achilles tendinitis issues. England head coach Thomas Tuchel has hinted that Saka will not be in contention to start against Ghana on Tuesday. Saka came off the bench in the 4-2 World Cup win over Croatia on Wednesday, and immediately provided an assist to fellow substitute Marcus Rashford. Before the tournament, Tuchel said Saka would require managing through the opening stages because of his injury. On Monday, Saka insisted he was ready to play and was prepared to gamble on his fitness to help the team during the World Cup. However, Tuchel says the Arsenal attacker is unlikely to start until the final group game against Panama in New Jersey on 27 June. Saka has been carrying the issue for some time, and while there was concern behind the scenes at Arsenal about the niggle, they deemed their forward fit enough to start regularly during their triumphant title run-in. It is understood that Saka's ongoing Achilles issue has not deteriorated since the climax of the domestic season. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has generally kept information about Saka's condition in-house, but Tuchel's admission that the 24-year-old has to be managed through at least part of the World Cup has thrust the winger's fitness into the limelight. Tuchel's latest comments appear to show that the German is protecting Saka, knowing the attacker will likely be a crucial asset during the latter stages of the tournament. The England national football team's squad depth will be tested against Ghana, with Saka's potential absence leaving a gap in the attacking lineup. England's victory over Croatia was a confident start to the World Cup campaign, but the team will need to adapt to Saka's potential absence. The match against Ghana will be a crucial test of England's strength in depth, and Tuchel will need to make tactical decisions to compensate for Saka's lack of involvement. As the World Cup progresses, the England national football team's fans will be watching Saka's fitness closely, hoping that he can return to full strength and contribute to the team's success. The final group game against Panama will be a key match for Saka to regain his fitness and form, and England will be hoping to secure a strong finish to the group stage. With Saka's injury concerns ongoing, the England national football team will need to rely on other players to step up and fill the gap, and the match against Ghana will be an important opportunity for them to do so.