BUK WORM

Saka's essential reading gets him through op hell and on road to recovery

- by ANDY DUNN

BUKAYO SAKA has opened up on the physical and mental strain of dealing with the first serious injury of his stellar career.

The Arsenal talisman, 23, missed three months of last season after going under the knife for a hamstring problem on Christmas Eve after being injured at Crystal Palace.

And the England attacker said he had brief doubts about whether he would be as thrillingly effective afterwards.

Saka said: "The first two days were the toughest - that realisation that I've got what I've got and I need an operation.

"You start to think... am I going to be the same? Players have come back from this injury and weren’t the same.

"But after two days, the surgery was done and you just look forward. I was really positive and put in all the work I needed with my diet, in the gym and on the pitch.