Ollie Watkins out of England game in Latvia after injury, returns to Aston Villa – The New York Times

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Ollie Watkins has withdrawn from the England squad and returned to Aston Villa after picking up an injury during Thursday’s victory against Wales.
England will travel to Latvia for Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier with a squad of 22 after Watkins’ withdrawal. A win will guarantee Thomas Tuchel’s side’s place at the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer.
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Watkins sustained the injury in the first half of England’s 3-0 friendly victory at Wembley Stadium. The striker, who scored the game’s second goal, appeared to injure his left leg after colliding with the post just before half-time.
The 29-year-old was attended to by medical staff and returned to the pitch shortly after but was replaced by former Villa team-mate Marcus Rashford at the interval.
Watkins said he was fine as he walked gingerly past reporters in the mixed zone after the match.
“He’s ok,” England manager Tuchel said after the game. “It was a clear goal normally for him, but unfortunately, he saw the ball too late and couldn’t score and crashed into the post.
“It was very, very painful, but as I understand it now, it’s only painful, so no harm done.”
The striker, who has scored 87 goals across his first five full seasons at Villa Park, has scored once in 10 appearances at club level this season.
Villa return to action following the international break with a trip to north London to face Tottenham Hotspur on October 19.
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Nnamdi Onyeagwara joined us in November 2022, initially helping us cover the World Cup before becoming a Junior News Editor in January 2023. Born in North London, Nnamdi attended Nottingham Trent University and previously worked at The Voice and the Barnet Post. Follow Nnamdi on Twitter @nnamdionye

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