Keane also mentioned that Saka may be dealing with an injury, which could further reduce his effectiveness on the field. This, combined with his recent lack of spark, may lead to Southgate considering alternative options for the starting lineup.

Despite this, Keane acknowledges that England's preparation for the World Cup has been going well, but notes that a strong performance against Croatia, their opening opponents, is far from guaranteed.

As one of England's key players, Saka's absence would be a significant blow to the team, who would likely rely on Noni Madueke, another player from the same London team, to fill the gap.

It's worth noting that Saka has been a consistent performer for England in major tournaments, having featured in every game since the Euro 2020 semi-final against Denmark.