Ollie Watkins credits Aston Villa boss Unai Emery for helping him make return to England squad as the Villa star scored to secure their 1-0 win over Australia
- Watkins scored the only goal in England’s 1-0 win over Australia at Wembley
- Adding to the Premier League total of four goals and four assists so far in the season
- The 27-year-old striker expressed his gratitude to Unai Emery for instilling confidence in him
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Ollie Watkins has praised Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery for helping him return to the England team.
The striker returned to the international stage for the first time since March 2022 and scored the only goal of the match as England beat Australia 1-0 in a friendly at Wembley on Friday evening.
Watkins, 27, has scored four goals and provided four assists in the first eight Premier League games of the new season, including a memorable hat-trick against Brighton.
He had scored just twice last campaign before Emery was named Steven Gerrard’s successor in November, but went on to score 14 goals in 26 appearances following the Spaniard’s arrival at Villa Park.
Asked how it felt to return to the England squad after an absence from the squad, Watkins said: “I think my mindset has changed since boss Unai Emery arrived at Villa.
Ollie Watkins scored the only goal in England’s 1-0 win over Australia on Friday night.
Watkins turned over at the far post in the second half following a cross from Jack Grealish
The Villa star will compete with Callum Wilson and Ivan Toney to be Harry Kane’s understudy
“He’s given me a lot of confidence. I’ve definitely improved in the last 18 months since I was last at the England camp.
“I think it shows in my form and my performance here, so I’m really happy and excited to be back in the team and to pull on the England jersey.
“I had imagined everything (playing and scoring against Australia). I couldn’t wait to get on the field so I’m delighted to have scored my goal and it helped the team win.”
In fact, Watkins is one of several striker options who will compete for the role of replacing England captain and all-time top scorer Harry Kane at Euro 2024.
Jack Grealish provided the assist for Ollie Watkins’ 57th-minute winner against Australia
Watkins thrived under departing Unai Emery and signed a new contract with Aston Villa this month
Callum Wilson, Ivan Toney, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and new Eddie Nketiah are other strikers in Gareth Southgate’s pool, but Watkins believes he is not a full replacement for Kane when he gets the nod Green.
“I think I have a completely different style of play to Harry, he can go deep and play incredibly long passes – that’s not my game. I can’t do that,” he said. -he adds.
“My strengths accumulate and exploit them so that I can only do what I can do. When I put on the jersey, I will try to do my best for my country and then it is the decision of the ‘coach.”