Ollie Watkins has offered England manager Thomas Tuchel a well-timed reminder of his credentials ahead of the World Cup, netting two goals as Aston Villa brushed past Bologna 3-1 in the Europa League last-eight first leg in Italy on Thursday night. The 30-year-old striker, who was controversially left out from Tuchel’s 35-man squad in March after a barren spell, has now struck in four out of five recent games across all competitions. With the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico just over two months away and Harry Kane’s backup options restricted, Watkins’ resurgence could be vital to England’s hopes of success in the global tournament.
The Redemption Arc Commences
Watkins’ omission from England’s March squad came as a difficult blow. The forward had scored only one goal in nine Premier League matches, prompting Tuchel to make the difficult decision to leave him out of the expanded 35-man group. Though the manager insisted the choice was tactical rather than a permanent rejection, the message was clear: Watkins needed to regain his touch to stand any chance of boarding the plane to North America. The striker, however, has responded with characteristic determination, turning what appeared to be a setback into the spark behind a impressive resurgence.
Since that international break, Watkins has been remarkably unstoppable. His strike against West Ham came before the Bologna commanding performance, and he has now struck four goals in five matches across all competitions. Most impressively, he has scored three goals in three Europa League appearances—matching his tally from his previous 24 appearances in major European competitions. The timing could scarcely be better, with Champions League qualification still achievable, a European final beckoning, and the World Cup approaching on the horizon. Ex-Scotland winger Pat Nevin noted that “it’s good timing, isn’t it?” as Watkins finds himself at the centre of multiple storylines that could shape his season.
- Four goals in five games across all competitions of late
- Three European goals in three consecutive appearances
- Had managed only one goal in nine league matches
- World Cup squad selection decision likely to arrive imminently
Tuchel’s Predicament and the Kane Question
Thomas Tuchel faces a real challenge as he prepares England for the World Cup in North America. The lack of Harry Kane throughout last month’s friendlies against Uruguay and Japan laid bare a worrying weakness in the Three Lions’ attacking options. Kane, now 32 years old and England’s all-time leading scorer, remains the natural starting option, but his advancing years and the requirements of a intense World Cup have compelled Tuchel to consider contingency plans. The manager’s limited alternatives at striker have been a cause of concern, with the squad missing a real top-tier alternative option who can smoothly fill Kane’s boots should fitness or performance desert the Bayern Munich striker.
Watkins’ exclusion from the March squad suggested Tuchel was still searching for answers to this puzzle. Yet the Villa forward’s blistering form in recent weeks has significantly changed the equation. By netting two goals against Bologna and four goals across five matches overall, Watkins has thrust himself back into contention at precisely the moment when England’s manager needs confidence in his options. Tuchel’s previous remarks about knowing Watkins “very well” now hold greater significance, suggesting the England boss may have been prepared to allow the striker space to regain his sharpness rather than write him off entirely.
Few Alternatives at Striker
England’s striker circumstances has been a perennial concern under Tuchel’s management. Whilst Kane remains an exceptional talent and a established international star, the limited options behind him establishes a gap that competing teams would be keen to exploit. The manager has experimented with different options, but none have definitively proven the consistency and quality demanded in top competition. Watkins’ past challenges in the Premier League—scoring only a single goal in nine matches before his latest resurgence—had left Tuchel questioning whether the Aston Villa man had the dependability needed for tournament football on the international stage.
The rise of Watkins as a credible contender offers Tuchel with a preferable solution. His Europa League performance has been particularly impressive, suggesting he excels in intense European fixtures where composure and clinical finishing are essential. Should Kane pick up an injury or decline in performance during the World Cup, possessing a forward of Watkins’ standard on hand could prove the difference between advancement and exit. For Tuchel, this constitutes a major development in solving one of his most critical squad issues.
Create at the Optimal Point
The timing of Watkins’ return to form could hardly be more fortuitous. After languishing in the wilderness with just one goal in twelve appearances, the 30-year-old has regained his edge at a juncture when both Aston Villa and England require his services most urgently. With the World Cup merely eight weeks away and Villa chasing European silverware alongside a bid for Champions League qualification, Watkins has made himself as an key asset. His brace against Bologna signifies considerably more than a routine Europa League victory; it signals to Tuchel that the striker has the character and ability to perform under pressure.
Pat Nevin’s observation that “it’s good timing” captures the weight of Watkins’ ongoing path. The former Scotland winger acknowledged that several narrative threads converge at the end of the season, each offering Watkins an opportunity to cement his place in England’s World Cup squad plans. By delivering consistently in European competition, where pressure intensifies and room for error tighten significantly, Watkins has shown precisely the level of composure that tournament football requires. His desire and readiness to take on extra minutes suggest a player performing at peak form, ready to seize the opportunities that arise in the coming months.
| Period | Goal Tally |
|---|---|
| Previous 12 Premier League matches | 1 goal |
| Past 5 games (all competitions) | 4 goals |
| 3 Europa League appearances | 3 goals |
| Previous 24 European competitions | 3 goals |
- Watkins netted twice in the Europa League quarter-final first leg against Bologna in Italy
- His recent performances provides Tuchel a viable alternative to captain Harry Kane
- Europa League displays suggest Watkins thrives in high-pressure European matches
Expert Opinion and Way Ahead
The consensus among football analysts is that Watkins has grasped a genuine opportunity to change the narrative around his England prospects. His transformation from fringe player to Europa League goalscorer within the span of a fortnight illustrates the volatility of form at the elite level, where confidence and momentum can change dramatically. Tuchel’s initial exclusion from the squad now appears increasingly pragmatic rather than definitive, a strategic choice intended to provide Watkins with the platform to prove his worth through club football. The England manager’s cryptic comments about knowing “what he can bring to the group” suggest Watkins was never permanently written off, merely temporarily sidelined pending evidence of renewed sharpness.
Looking ahead, Watkins confronts an fascinating run of fixtures that will ultimately define his World Cup fate. Aston Villa’s ongoing domestic and European commitments offer multiple stages upon which he can press his case for international selection. The upcoming clash with Bologna next Thursday provides immediate opportunity for prolonged excellence, whilst the wider picture of Villa’s push for Champions League qualification adds genuine stakes to every appearance. Should Watkins sustain his present form through April and into May, Tuchel will have difficulty justifying excluding a striker performing at such elevated levels when the squad is finalised for the summer tournament in North America.
What Commentators Say
Pat Nevin’s assessment demonstrated the synchronicity of Watkins’ moment perfectly, recognising that several competitions converge to establish an perfect opportunity for redemption. The experienced commentator highlighted that Watkins’ sharpness and liveliness versus Bologna indicated a forward finding again his best self at just the time when visibility is most crucial. Nevin’s remark about the “prospect of the striker position open” underscores how Kane’s age and Watkins’ latest displays have come together to create genuine uncertainty around England’s leading attacking choice for the tournament.
Beyond Nevin’s observations, the wider expert community has noted Watkins’ distinctive strength for European competition, where his direct running and clinical finishing appear to flourish. His three goals in three Europa League matches represents a conversion rate that stands in stark contrast to his earlier struggles, suggesting he performs well to the intensity and tactical demands of continental football. This distinction could prove important for Tuchel, who must consider not merely league performance but specifically how players cope with the heightened pressure of World Cup football.
The narrative arc of Watkins’ season—from fringe squad option to World Cup prospect—exemplifies football’s capacity for rapid redemption. His willingness to demonstrate hunger and commitment, paired with the manager’s tacit indication that absence was not permanent rather than permanent, creates an compelling narrative thread as the season enters its climactic phase. Should Watkins continue delivering goals in the Europa League and Premier League, the conversation will undoubtedly move from whether he deserves selection to how Tuchel accommodates him alongside Kane in the tournament squad.