Just when England's hopes were soaring, a key player has been sidelined! Ollie Watkins, the Aston Villa striker, will miss the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Latvia due to an injury. This news comes as a blow to the Three Lions as they gear up for their match in Riga on Tuesday, a game you can catch live on talkSPORT. But what exactly happened? Let's dive in.
Watkins, who has been in impressive form, unfortunately, picked up a knock during England's dominant 3-0 victory over Wales on Thursday. He managed to score a goal in the match, but a collision with the goalpost while attempting to connect with a cross forced him to leave the field.
Initially, the situation seemed less serious, with Thomas Tuchel downplaying the injury. However, an official statement has since confirmed that Watkins won't be able to participate in the next match and has returned to his club for treatment.
Fortunately, England's captain, Harry Kane, is back in action after missing the Wales game due to an ankle injury sustained during Bayern Munich's 3-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt before the international break. Tuchel had previously stated that Kane would miss the Wales match but would likely be fit for the Latvia game.
Watkins certainly made his presence felt in Kane's absence, scoring his sixth goal for England in the match against Wales. However, his evening was cut short before halftime when he appeared to injure his left leg after crashing into the post. After receiving treatment, he returned to the pitch briefly but was later substituted at halftime for Marcus Rashford.
After the match, Watkins initially downplayed the injury, and Tuchel echoed this sentiment, stating that the injury was painful but didn't seem serious. However, the latest developments tell a different story.
Watkins' absence is a setback, especially considering his recent form. After a challenging start to the season with Aston Villa, he's been finding his scoring touch again. With 87 goals in his first five full seasons at Villa Park, he's a vital player. He had scored only once in his first 10 club appearances this season, breaking his goal drought in a 3-1 win over Fulham in September. But with two goals in his last four matches, he was on the upswing.
Now, all eyes are on Watkins' recovery. He'll be hoping to be fit for Villa's upcoming home match against Tottenham on Saturday.
What do you think about Watkins' injury? Do you think it will significantly impact England's chances in the qualifier? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
