England manager Thomas Tuchel may have found a timely solution to his attacking dilemma as Ollie Watkins continues his impressive goal-scoring form for Aston Villa.
With the World Cup in North America just over two months away, Tuchel watched his squad struggle to find the net without captain Harry Kane during recent friendlies against Uruguay and Japan. The absence of a reliable alternative to the 32-year-old record scorer has been a persistent concern.
However, Watkins delivered a compelling statement on Thursday night, scoring twice in Aston Villa's 3-1 Europa League quarter-final first-leg victory over Bologna in Italy. This performance comes after the 30-year-old striker was surprisingly omitted from Tuchel's expanded 35-man England squad in March, a decision the manager explained by saying he already knew what Watkins could offer.
Since that snub, Watkins has responded emphatically. He has now netted four goals in his last five matches across all competitions, a stark contrast to managing just one in his previous twelve appearances. His recent European form is particularly notable, with three goals in his last three Europa League outings matching his total from the prior 24 major European matches.
"It's the back end of the season and I'm raring to go," Watkins told broadcasters after the match in Bologna. "I could play another 90 minutes. I'm excited for the next few games. I'm hungry."
His goals against Bologna were crucial. After Ezri Konsa's opener, Watkins capitalized on a defensive error early in the second half to double Villa's lead. When Bologna pulled a goal back late through Jonathan Rowe, Watkins sealed the victory in the 94th minute, heading home from a corner to give Villa a commanding two-goal advantage heading into the second leg.
With England not scheduled to play again until the summer, Watkins' prolific run provides Tuchel with a compelling in-form option as final World Cup selections loom. The striker's timing could hardly be better.