Watkins credits England snub with sparking Europa League-winning form for Villa

Ollie Watkins has described his omission from England’s March training camp as a “blessing in disguise”, crediting the setback with igniting the run of form that carried Aston Villa to the Europa League title and a top-four Premier League finish.

Left out of Thomas Tuchel’s squad for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, the 30-year-old responded by scoring 11 goals in his next 12 games — a prolific spell that proved decisive in Villa’s continental campaign and their push for Champions League qualification.

“Before the March camp, I had started to pick up my form,” Watkins said. “I scored an important goal and had some big performances against Lille in the round of 16. So my form was starting to pick up. I think it was a blessing in disguise. Sometimes, when something gets taken away from you, you realise how important it is, and it gives you that fire in your belly to come back and show people what you can do.”

Watkins also pointed to the faith Tuchel maintained in him throughout the period as a source of motivation. “The manager always had faith in me, so it is nice I could repay him with the performances and goals and to show I deserved to be here. I felt in the big moments, when the team needed me, I stepped up.”

Villa’s Europa League triumph ended a 44-year wait for silverware at the club, and Watkins was keen to underline what that meant heading into the summer. “It’s been a long time since the club had brought back a trophy, and we did that,” he said. “Fans have been waiting for that a long time, and obviously we succeeded — it’s an amazing feeling. To come into the England camp off the back of a strong end of the season and winning a trophy, there’s nothing better.”

Now back in the international fold, Watkins is targeting a significant role at the 2026 World Cup. “Physically I’m the best I’ve ever been, and my form in front of goal is really good at the moment, so I’m feeling really strong,” he said. “Everyone’s got a part to play in this competition, whether it’s early stages or later stages — we just have to be ready.”

Watkins is expected to compete with Ivan Toney for the role of deputy to captain Harry Kane, with both strikers having featured off the bench at Euro 2024. Watkins acknowledged the healthy dynamic between the pair. “Me and Ivan are different players, and you need that — you need versatility. Ivan’s a proven goalscorer; he’s shown it throughout his career.”