England manager Thomas Tuchel has provided a fitness-related explanation for the notable exclusion of Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins from the latest national squad.
Fitness Concerns Prompt Squad Decision
The 29-year-old forward has been left out of the Three Lions group for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania. This omission comes despite Watkins being selected for the two previous international breaks this season.
Villa have not released any official statement regarding a fitness issue with their player. However, Tuchel stated that after close observation, the coaching team concluded Watkins is currently "playing through discomfort."
A Strategic Break for Recovery
Watkins has featured in 15 appearances for his club this term, with 11 of those being starts. Despite this consistent involvement, his goal return has been limited to a single strike.
Tuchel emphasised that this decision was taken with the player's long-term fitness in mind. "It simply didn't make too much sense to bring him into camp in this condition," the England boss explained.
He further clarified that the objective is to use this international break as a recovery period, allowing Watkins to receive treatment and return to his peak physical condition. The manager expects the striker to be ready to compete for his place again when the squad reconvenes in March.
Looking Ahead to Future Squads
With the qualifying matches effectively dead rubbers, Tuchel opted to name only one recognised striker, captain Harry Kane, in the squad. He sought to reassure other forwards in contention, stating, "No one needs to be nervous, we have a lot of good strikers. Ollie is one of them."
This planned break now offers Watkins a crucial window to resolve his physical issues and return to action for Aston Villa without the burden of international duty, with his place for future England camps left open.
