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5 months ago
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Fans have ripped into former Republic of Ireland winger Kevin Kilbane after his comments on Bukayo Saka ahead of Euro 2024.
Kilbane was part of the TSN Sports studio team previewing the tournament, which kicks off next, and was putting together an draft best XI from the players at the finals alongside fellow pundit Stephen Caldwell.
Kilbane's team included some of the summer's big hitters including Kylian Mbappe, Declan Rice and Bruno Fernandes, but the ex-Sunderland man wasn't too bothered to miss out on Arsenal star Saka.
As Caldwell included him in his XI, Kilbane claimed that he wouldn't pick the 22-year-old due to his tendency to play on small injuries - choosing France's Antoine Griezmann instead.
Telling his fellow TSN Sports pundit: '[Saka is] not in the same class as [Antoine] Griezmann [in terms of] his influence on the side.
Kevin Kilbane (right) decided against picking England's Bukayo Saka in his best XI at the Euros
Kilbane accused Saka of making the most of injuries and then being fit for the next match
'Watch out during the Euros as well with Saka. [He'll be] limping off with 20 minutes to go and then a doubt for the next game and then [he'll] make it.'
Saka has faced some criticism in the past across social media, for missing games through minor injuries, but fans have been quick to rubbish Kilbane's claims online.
'This is a joke TV personalities nowadays are trying to be more like social media fans what happened to analyse the game properly?' One fan ranted on X.
Others laid the blame on the broadcaster, which one posting, 'Ridiculous from TSN here.'
While another read, 'Absolutely SHAMEFUL from @TSN_Sports and everyone associated.'
There was some that even suggested that Saka is now receiving the same kind of unnecessary treatment that was previously aimed at a former England teammate.
The former Republic of Ireland star was lambasted for his comments by fans on social media
Fans took to social media to blast Kilbane and the comments he made on TSN Sports
One supporter wrote: 'Saka is the new Sterling. They're gonna hate him for no reason.'
Saka hasn't played for England since the win over Scotland last September, and missed the March international friendlies with an unknown injury.
Despite missing those games, the forward still managed to play 47 times for Arsenal last season, scoring twenty goals.
He was included in Gareth Southgate's final squad for the finals in Germany, where he's expected to be a key player for the England side.
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