Ollie Watkins has recorded 12 goals in 44 appearances for Aston Villa this season.
While England’s next match isn’t until the summer, Thursday’s performance may have brought a smile to Thomas Tuchel’s face.
The England manager witnessed his squad struggle to find goals in the absence of captain and all-time leading scorer Harry Kane during last month’s friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.
This underscored Tuchel’s limited options as an alternative to the 32-year-old Kane, with the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico just over two months away.
Thus, Tuchel would have been pleased to learn that Ollie Watkins scored twice for Aston Villa in their 3-1 victory against Bologna in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final in Italy.
Tuchel omitted the Villa forward from his expanded 35-man England squad in March, following a run of just one goal in his previous nine Premier League matches.
“Watkins is not with us, but this is largely due to the fact that I know what he can bring to the group – I know him very well,” Tuchel stated during the squad announcement.
Despite these comments, the striker’s prospects of participating in the World Cup appeared uncertain.
Watkins’ response to this setback has been resounding, with the 30-year-old adding to his goal against West Ham in the Premier League just before the international break.
“It’s the back end of the season, and I’m raring to go,” Watkins told TNT Sports after Villa moved closer to a place in a European semi-final.
“I could play another 90 minutes. I’m excited for the next few games. I’m hungry.”
Following Ezri Konsa’s opener against the run of play in Bologna, Watkins calmed Villa’s nerves with a second goal early in the second half, capitalizing on a mistake by Torbjorn Heggem and finishing through the legs of goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia.
After the Serie A side scored a late goal through Jonathan Rowe in the 90th minute, Watkins restored Villa’s two-goal advantage in the 94th minute from a corner, ahead of the return leg at Villa Park next Thursday (20:00 BST).
Watkins has now scored three goals in his last five games across all competitions, after having managed just one in his previous 12 appearances.
His three goals in three Europa League games match his total from his previous 24 appearances in major European competitions.
Former Scotland winger Pat Nevin believes Watkins’ improved form has come at an opportune moment for both club and country.
“It’s good timing, isn’t it? Lots of things happening at the end of this season,” Nevin told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“There is the possibility of the centre-forward position waiting with England at the World Cup, there’s a chance at securing Champions League football and there’s a possible European final, and here he is scoring two goals and looking very sharp and very lively indeed. The chances he got, he scored.
“Bologna went for it and left him one versus one, so he knew he was going to get opportunities, and it was up to him to take them. He did take them, and did so very well, and he will take the headlines.”
Tuchel gave opportunities to Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke in Kane’s absence last month, but neither managed to make a significant impact.
Watkins was injured for a significant portion of England’s World Cup qualifying campaign and has played just once under the German manager – coming on as a substitute in a win over Serbia in September.
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But former England midfielder Owen Hargreaves believes Watkins’ latest performance has firmly placed him back into contention.
“If you score two goals in a European knockout tie, trust me your name is back in the mix,” Hargreaves told TNT Sports.
“To be honest the boys didn’t rip up trees the other day either, so if Watkins keeps scoring he will be in.
“He is unselfish, he’s humble and he is a good goalscorer when he gets opportunities. Yes, he can run the channels and create opportunities, but if he is scoring goals then he is almost impossible to leave off the plane.”
Former Villa midfielder Stiliyan Petrov added: “For Watkins, there were so many questions about his performances and scoring goals, but every time Villa need him to produce, he does. That is what makes him first choice.”
“In the back of his mind he is thinking of the World Cup, definitely. When he is with England he has to score, he has to perform and tonight is a good start.”
With Villa entering a defining period of the season – chasing their first trophy in 30 years and a return to the Champions League – Unai Emery knows his striker must continue to deliver.
“Watkins is a fighter,” the Villa manager said.
“Sometimes he plays brilliantly like today and sometimes not. When he is not scoring we lack something from him. But he always plays well because he his doing his task and working for the team.
“Today he scored two goals which is fantastic. It is positive for him and for us. He is always consistent in his work.”
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