Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Jacob Steinberg in Blankenhain

Ollie Watkins stays ready for leading England role after Serbian acting job

Ollie Watkins strikes the ball in England training.
‘I know I’ll get an opportunity. It’s just about taking it,’ says Ollie Watkins as he awaits his first involvement at Euro 2024. Photograph: The FA/Getty Images

At some point over the next four weeks, there is likely to be a moment when England need Ollie Watkins to do more than impersonate Dusan Vlahovic in training. As with any understudy, the trick is being prepared for any opportunity that comes his way.

There is no telling when Gareth Southgate will turn to Watkins. And unfortunately for the Aston Villa striker, he currently has one of the hardest jobs in football. Much like Vincent Janssen, Carlos Vinícius and Roberto Soldado in previous seasons at Tottenham Hotspur, there is not much that Watkins can do other than accept that being behind Harry Kane means spending a lot of time on the bench.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.