BANG FOR YOUR BUK

Saka's back and ready to make up for lost time after Christmas surgery hell

- BY ANDY DUNN Chief Sports Writer X@andydunnmirror

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

The 23-year-old Arsenal talisman missed three months of last season after going under the knife on Christmas Eve for a hamstring problem (below right, against Crystal Palace).

And the England attacker admitted he had brief doubts about whether he would be as thrillingly effective after the op.

Saka explained: "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 successful, and you just look forward.

"I was really positive and put in all the work I needed with my diet, in the gym, on the pitch.