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Arsenal star Bukayo Saka insists dream England debut against Wales is just the start

POOL/AFP via Getty Images
POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Bukayo Saka completed his dream year by making his international debut and insisted it was just the start of things to come with England.

The Arsenal academy graduate looked assured before being replaced in the 76th minute, having been handed his chance with Ben Chilwell absent for breaching Covid rules with Tammy Abraham and Jadon Sancho.

It is just over a year since Saka scored his first goal for Arsenal - in a Europa League tie against Eintracht Frankfurt - and the 19-year-old is desperate for the whirlwind last 12 months to flourish into a full international career.

Asked if the last year was something he could have envisaged, Saka said: “No, I couldn’t have imagined it. Frankfurt, I still remember it like it was yesterday, it was a very special night and a dream come true to make my debut and score.

"Now it is another dream come true to make my debut for England and, hopefully, it can be the first of many.

“The game was quite different and the intensity was high. Obviously, I had to get used to my new team-mates, but I grew in confidence as the game went on, I could have got a goal in the second half.

"I’m happy with the performance. There are a few things I can improve, but I’ll take confidence from this because it is always a special moment to play for my country.

“Putting the shirt on was a very special moment. When I put it on before the game I remembered all the times I put it on in the youth team and this one was just different, so special. To play at Wembley, there are no fans, but in front of the manager and such high-quality players is a special moment.”

Saka - along with Jack Grealish, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Danny Ings - gave Southgate a welcome selection headache and the England manager said a number of his players had made an impression ahead of the upcoming Nations League games against Belgium and Denmark.

Arsenal's Bukayo Saka enjoyed a confident senior England debut against Wales at Wembley (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's Bukayo Saka enjoyed a confident senior England debut against Wales at Wembley (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Southgate said: “Whenever we give debuts or we get guys who deserve their chance for time on the pitch, there is an opportunity to push themselves up the pecking order a bit.

“Several did that tonight. There is competition for places, not just the squad we named but there are other players outside that.

“More than anything I am pleased for them. It is not easy for such an inexperienced group to pick up everything we were asking them to do in such a short space of time.

“Some of them have never trained together until two or three days ago, so it was a lot for them to take in, but they grew as the game went on.

“We must remember international sport is such an honour — we had four players starting their first matches for England. All from different parts of the country, all different ages and all totally different journeys to get here.

“It was very special for all of them and I think they can all be really pleased with the way they played.”

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