GLENN HODDLE thinks Arsenal rising star Bukayo Saka should see a psychologist to help him after his penalty agony.
The 19-year-old missed the decisive spot-kick in the Euro 2020 final last weekend.
He was also targeted with sick racist abuse on social media after England lost to Italy at Wembley.
Brave Saka has a long international career ahead of him, and former Three Lions boss Hoddle thinks a psychologist can help him if he’s faced with another penalty.
Hoddle told Betfair: “The young man needs to try and put it away for the summer, go on holiday and get it out of his mind.
“Then he needs to address it in a positive way and perhaps he’ll get some help with that.
“He could go another ten years in his career before he gets that off his shoulder.
“Or he could do some work with a psychologist, who will sit him down, go through it with him and turn it around so that he embraces it and feels confident taking penalties.
“If he doesn’t do that it’ll take a longer period of time to get out of his system. You gain by experience but you don’t have to wait until you’re 28 or 29 to overcome it.”
Hoddle added: “Visualisation and sports psychology are what he needs, just so he can revisit it in his mind: this time he scores and gets the feeling of scoring.
“Every cell in his body at the moment is thinking about it negatively.
“But go on holiday first, Bukayo, try and switch off and don’t think about it.”
Hoddle, 63, managed England for three years including at the 1998 World Cup.
Saka released a passionate message on social media this week after his penalty heartbreak and racial torment.
Saka wrote: “I have stayed away from social media for a few days to spend time with my family and reflect on the last few weeks.
“This message won’t do it justice how grateful I am for all the love that I have received, and I feel that I need to thank everyone who has supported me.
“It was an honour to be part of an England squad that leads by example, they are brothers for life and I’m grateful for everything that I have learnt from every one of the players and staff who worked so hard.
“To help that team reach our first final in 55 years, seeing my family in the crowd, knowing what they’ve given to help me get there, that meant everything to me.
“There are no words to tell you how disappointed I was with the result and my penalty.
“I really believed we would win this for you. I’m sorry that we couldn’t bring it home for you this year.
“But I promise you that we will give everything we’ve got to make sure this generation knows how it feels to win.
“My reaction post match said it all, I was hurting so much and I felt like I’d let you all and my England family down, but I can promise you this…
“I will not let that moment or the negativity that I’ve received this week break me.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
