England manager Gareth Southgate has been given the green light by the Football Association to attend next weekend's FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley.
After months without being able to visit a ground to watch some of his players in action for their clubs, the England manager, according to a report by the Mail, will be allowed inside Wembley next weekend for the FA Cup double-header.
On Saturday, Arsenal face Manchester City before Chelsea lock horns with Manchester United just under 24 hours later.
This news will be a welcome relief to Southgate, who would have held ambitions to guide England to UEFA Euro 2020 glory this summer had the tournament not been suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic, as he has been forced to watch the Premier League's restart at home on TV.
Whilst that option will have presented the former Middlesbrough boss the opportunity to see some of his players in action, it will not have been the same as being present at a ground, which, of course, would have allowed the Three Lions chief the chance to watch his players on and off the ball, opposed to a TV camera focusing on the player in possession.
This news means that Southgate will be able to cast a watchful eye over the development of Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka.
The teenage star, who made his senior Gunners debut back in November 2018, has been one of the club's best performers this year, which recently led to speculation about his future at club level.
But the winger erased any fears Arsenal may have had of losing him by putting pen to paper on a new long-term deal at the Emirates Stadium last week.
Whilst Saka may have sorted out his future at club level, he is yet to decide which country he wishes to play for at international level, as he qualifies to play for both England and Nigeria.
He has already played for the Three Lions at Under-16, 17, 18 and 19 level, but could still choose to play for Nigeria at senior level.
But if Southgate is impressed by Saka during next week's FA Cup semi-final clash with Pep Guardiola's City, the England chief may be able to persuade Saka to choose England as his national side by offering him a promise of being in his next squad once international football returns.
Saka would most certainly present a fresh option to England and Southgate, especially if the England boss wishes to use him as a left-back, with Leicester City defender Ben Chilwell currently the Three Lions' only real choice for that particular role.
