Bukayo Saka makes it clear he doesn’t want to ‘play out of position’ at left-back but England star accepts it’s in ‘Gareth Southgate’s hands’ ahead of Slovakia showdown

Bukayo Saka does not believe moving him from right back to left back will help solve England’s problems.

Saka started all three of the Three Lions’ group matches in Germany and registered an assist for Jude Bellingham in the opening 1–0 win against Serbia.

The winger found the net himself in Tuesday’s drab 0-0 draw against Slovenia, but the effort was disallowed after Phil Foden was ruled offside in the run-up.

Gareth Southgate’s side have performed disappointingly despite reaching the last 16 as winners of Group C. Demand for Chelsea talent Cole Palmer as a starter reached a boiling point after his impressive performance in the final 20 minutes in Cologne.

Calls for Palmer to start have led to suggestions that Southgate could look to have Saka play at left-back, a position he played in his younger days at Arsenal.

Gary Neville and Ian Wright, among others, have come out this week in support of this idea.

However, it’s clearly not an idea that Saka himself is particularly excited about.

Saka has told BBC 5 Live that ‘putting me out of position’ at left-back is not the solution for England.

The Arsenal star further acknowledged that ‘it’s in Gareth’s hands and we all have to trust what he selects on the day’.

After Tuesday’s draw against Slovenia, Arsenal legend Wright said: ‘As great as Saka has done for England in terms of what he creates, his goals and assists, he is a natural left-sided player.

‘He started playing on the left for England at youth level, he started at Arsenal on the left. If that gives you the balance and you bring Cole Palmer into the team then that’s something you should at least look at.

“Yes, Kyle Walker can play there [at left-back]it’s the same situation where the player comes inside and there’s nobody around. He’s a natural left-footer. Saka, we could activate the whole left side.’