Ollie Watkins, the striker for Aston Villa, delivered a message to England manager Gareth Southgate by scoring twice in the team’s victory over Luton Town.
Before England manager Gareth Southgate selects the Three Lions side for Euro 2024, Ollie Watkins has thrown down the challenge, admitting that he is dreaming of representing his country at a major international event.
After a quiet Christmas season, striker Watkins has found his scoring touch again, scoring seven goals in his last six Premier League games. The most recent of those goals came in Saturday night’s 3-2 victory over Luton Town, where Watkins netted a brace.
In his 37 appearances in all competitions since the start of the season, Watkins, 28, has contributed an incredible 33 goals. In an international friendly against Australia back in October, he also scored the game’s lone goal for England, winning 1-0. Having been left off both the 2021 European squad and, more recently, the 2022 World Cup team, he is hoping that his performance will be sufficient to earn a spot in a more competitive international setting.
“If I said I wasn’t thinking about the Euros I would be lying to you,” he told BBC Sport. “I have played Premier League football for a number of years now. I missed out on the last Euros squad because it was my first season in the Premier League. I am scoring, I am established, so it is down to the manager if he wants to pick me.
“I want to score as many goals as possible. I feel like I am doing that. I am confident and I am playing my best football. I think the manager has a lot of faith in me. He keeps working with me. My game understanding has got a lot better. I am looking forward to the last stretch and the end of the season.”
“His commitment is brilliant and the consequence is this when he works hard every day,” stated Unai Emery, his manager. He never stops laboring for the team, trying to hold up the ball, score, and engage in physical altercations with the center back.”
Watkins will have competition for a spot in the team from players like Ivan Toney and Dominic Solanke. The Euros begin in Germany in June, and England’s group stage matches include Serbia, Slovenia, and Denmark.