Saka set to change position again for England vs Switzerland

Bukayo Saka is in line to start as a wing-back for England against Switzerland, with Gareth Southgate changing his formation for the match.

Rob Dorsett of Sky Sports reports that Bukayo Saka is set to keep his place in England’s starting lineup as they take on Switzerland on Saturday evening, but the Arsenal man would be playing a new position.

So far, Saka has played at right-wing, left-back, and right-wing-back for England this tournament, but he’ll play his fourth new position on Saturday.

According to the claims, Gareth Southgate is expected to switch to a back three, and it seems he’s settled on Saka and Kieran Trippier as his wing-backs.

Fellow Arsenal star Declan Rice is predicted to keep his place in the midfield, with Aaron Ramsdale remaining on the bench for now. Unless Jordan Pickford picks up an injury, it’s unlikely that will change.

The system is the same as the one Southgate used in the Euro 2020 final three years ago, but it’s a formation he hasn’t used since then.

With England failing to impress in their group stage matches, and coming within seconds of elimination by Slovakia in the last-16, it was clear that changes needed to be made.

In the middle of a major tournament, Southgate was evidently hesitant to try something new, so he’s reverted to something that worked for him before.

For Saka, the hope is that he’ll pick up where he left off a few years ago, when he played as a left-wing-back on a regular basis. A lot has happened since then, but this is where England need him now.