Bukayo Saka is anticipated to begin for England towards Senegal in Sunday’s World Cup last-16 conflict, Sky Sports News has realized.

Saka scored twice in England’s World Cup opening group-stage 6-2 win towards Iran however didn’t discover the web towards the United States within the following match.

The 21-year-old Arsenal winger was then an unused substitute within the 3-0 win over Wales, with goalscorers Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford each most popular.

But Saka will now make his return to the beginning line-up towards Senegal on Sunday, as Gareth Southgate’s group look to make the quarter-finals for the third successive main event.

What does Saka inclusion imply for attacking line-up?

Sky Sports News’ senior reporter Melissa Reddy:

“Despite all of the discuss of an unchanged line-up, Saka is ready to begin. So one in every of Phil Foden or Marcus Rashford is anticipated to overlook out.

“The reality Saka was rested within the final sport, maybe means this was all the time deliberate.

“That leaves a talking point over what Southgate will do elsewhere in attack. Foden and Rashford both offer something different – Rashford is direct but Foden’s grace and dynamism on the ball was on show against Wales. But I don’t think there will be many complaints about Saka’s inclusion.

“Raheem Sterling can also be somebody Southgate trusts, and Southgate has by no means began a knockout sport with out him; the Sterling-Kane mixture has been one of many bedrocks of his administration.”

Reporter notebook: Who else will start for England?

Sky Sports News senior reporter Rob Dorsett:

The bulk of the facet will little doubt stay unchanged. As, I anticipate, will the formation – 4-3-3 has labored nicely for England within the event up to now, permitting them an additional man in midfield, so I’d anticipate that to stay fixed.

The again 4 is prone to be the identical, although it is a toss-up between Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier at right-back. Walker might nicely win that battle – his distinctive tempo is a attribute that Southgate has all the time valued, although with out Trippier within the group, England lose some experience with set items.

Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham are sure picks within the midfield, and Jordan Henderson might nicely get the nod forward of Mason Mount, due to his additional expertise and stabilising presence.

We know Harry Kane will lead the road for England, regardless that he’s but to attain on this World Cup. The captain shouldn’t be taking part in at full tempo, however he insisted within the pre-match information convention he’s totally match and feeling nice.

His involvement remains to be very worthwhile: three assists match essentially the most any Englishman has managed at a World Cup since David Beckham greater than 20 years in the past.

So the most important areas of rivalry encompass England’s huge attacking positions, which have been the topic of a lot debate for the reason that win over Wales. In fact, lengthy earlier than that sport too.

Expect Jack Grealish to stay as England’s super-sub, and so it is a query of ‘which two from 4’, with persuasive arguments attainable for every of Rashford, Foden, Sterling and Saka.

Saka is anticipated to begin, whereas Southgate stated in his pre-match information convention that he is “not sure there’s a right or wrong” alternative, as a result of all 4 are distinctive and every of them presents one thing totally different. That’s very true.

He additionally identified – appropriately – that with 5 substitutes accessible, every of them has the opportunity of making an influence off the bench.

Amongst the media large there’s hypothesis that, as a result of Henderson, Rashford and Foden have executed media interviews in the previous few days, they should be within the beginning group. I’m unsure the FA or Southgate works like that.

England’s potential route to the World Cup final

Round of 16 – Sunday December 4
England vs Senegal – Kick-off 7pm

Quarter-finals – Saturday December 10
England vs France or Poland – Kick-off 7pm

Semi-finals – Wednesday December 14
England vs Morocco/Spain/Portugal/Switzerland – Kick-off 7pm

Last-16 fixtures

Saturday December 3
Netherlands 3-1 USA
Argentina 2-1 Australia

Sunday December 4
France (Winners of Group D) vs Poland (Runners-up of Group C) – Kick-off 3pm
England (Winners of Group B) vs Senegal (Runners-up of Group A) – Kick-off 7pm

Monday December 5
Japan (Cinners of Group E) vs Croatia (Runners-up of Group F) – Kick-off 3pm
Brazil (Winners of Group G) vs South Korea (Runners-up of Group H) – Kick-off 7pm

Tuesday December 6
Morocco (Winners of Group F) vs Spain (Runners-up of Group E) – Kick-off 3pm
Portugal (Winners of Group H) vs Switzerland (Runners-up of Group G) – Kick-off 7pm