Ollie Watkins has revealed that being dropped by England manager Thomas Tuchel in March was a 'blessing in disguise' that ultimately secured his place in the World Cup squad. The Aston Villa striker was left out of the final two friendlies before the tournament, but responded by scoring six goals in his last five games.
Watkins admitted the snub put 'fire in his belly' and drove him to prove his worth. 'Sometimes when something gets taken away from you, you realise how important it is,' he said. 'It was a case of proving to myself what I could do.'
The 29-year-old finished the domestic season in fine form, helping Villa win the Europa League – their first trophy in 44 years. He believes that momentum will carry into the summer with England. 'There is nothing better to come into the England camp on the back of a strong end to the season,' he added.
Watkins is now focused on making an impact at the World Cup, saying he feels 'physically the best I have ever been' and that his 'form in front of goal is really good'. He is determined to play a part in what he hopes will be a special tournament for the Three Lions.
