Ollie Watkins Withdraws from England’s World Cup Qualifier Against Latvia Due to Injury
Ollie Watkins will miss England’s World Cup qualifier against Latvia due to an injury sustained during a recent match. The striker, aged 29, was substituted at halftime during the Three Lions’ 3-0 victory over Wales.
Injury Details and Immediate Impact
Watkins scored England’s second goal at Wembley but collided with the post later in the first half. After the match, England’s head coach Thomas Tuchel confirmed that while Watkins was “OK,” he has since returned to Aston Villa and will not participate in the upcoming match in Riga.
World Cup Qualification Scenario
England has a chance to qualify for next summer’s World Cup by securing a victory against Latvia. Achieving this could allow the team two matches to spare in their qualification campaign.
Potential Replacements for Watkins
With Watkins sidelined, coach Tuchel is considering several options. Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon shifted to a central role in the second half against Wales and could do the same against Latvia. Another alternative is Marcus Rashford, who is currently on loan at Barcelona. Rashford has scored 18 goals for England, the second-highest in the squad after captain Harry Kane.
Harry Kane’s Availability
Harry Kane, who missed the match against Wales, trained with his teammates on Monday and is expected to be available for the Latvia fixture.
Watkins’ Recent Form
- Watkins made his England debut in 2021.
- He has scored six goals in 20 international appearances.
- This season, he has struggled at the club level, scoring only once in ten games.
Aston Villa’s next match will be against Tottenham on Saturday, 19 October, marking their first game after the international break.
