Exclusive: Ollie Watkins hopes goals for Aston Villa will bring him into England squad after talks with Gareth Southgate
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Updated 02/10/2023 at 19:00 GMT
Ollie Watkins was a surprise omission from England's last squad that faced Ukraine and Scotland, but did his prospects no harm at all after netting a hat-trick in a 6-1 win over Brighton on Saturday. The 27-year-old revealed he has spoken with England boss Gareth Southgate regarding his international prospects, and knows all he can do is focus on performing well for Unai Emery's side.
Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates scoring his side's fourth goal and his own hat trick goal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion at Villa Park on September 30, 2023 in Birmingham, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
In an exclusive interview with TNT Sports, Ollie Watkins has revealed his hopes that his goalscoring form for Aston Villa will force him back into the England reckoning.
The 27-year-old followed up his winner against Chelsea with a hat-trick in a 6-1 win over Brighton on Saturday as Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate watched on from the stands at Villa Park.
He admits that hitting form at the right time will be crucial to his hopes of another call-up.
“All I can do is to just keep scoring more goals,” he told TNT Sports prior to the win over the Seagulls.
“I've spoken to him [Gareth Southgate] and I know what I need to do. I need to score more goals to compete with the very best.
“I think people forget that England is the elite of the elite. I've just got to score more goals and a little bit is about timing around the squad [announcement].
“If you're scoring just before that, it puts you in better contention. My goal is to score as many goals as possible.
“England are very blessed with a lot of talented players, so to even play for them was a good achievement.
“I want to be in all the squads coming up, and I'll do everything I can to do that. But I need to focus on my club form first, get firing and then I can look at that.”
Watkins is also relishing competing in Europe, with Villa ending a 13-year absence from continental action in the UEFA Europa Conference League.
The campaign started with a 3-2 defeat away at Legia Warsaw, and the striker is eager to right the wrongs from that result.
“We're very privileged that we get the opportunity to do it [play in Europe]. But we're not there for a holiday, we're there to win.
“So as much as the atmosphere is great - and that helps - we're there to win.
“The most important thing is coming away with winning the games.”
Villa host Bosnian side HSK Zrinjski Mostar in the competition this Thursday, October 5.
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