Can Ollie Watkins be the man to replace Harry Kane as England’s first-choice striker? According to former Manchester United and Aston Villa goal-scorer Dwight Yorke, Watkins has what it takes, but he still has a lot of work to do. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Watkins’ credentials and assess his chances of becoming England’s main man up front.
Who is Ollie Watkins?
Ollie Watkins is a 27-year-old striker who currently plays for Aston Villa in the Premier League. He started his career at Exeter City before moving to Brentford in 2017. Watkins had a breakthrough season in the Championship in 2019/20, scoring 26 goals and helping Brentford reach the play-off final. Although they lost to Fulham, Watkins’ performances caught the eye of several Premier League clubs, and he eventually signed for Aston Villa in September 2020 for a reported fee of £28 million.
Watkins’ form for Aston Villa
Watkins had a solid debut season for Villa, scoring 14 goals and providing five assists in the Premier League. He also became the first Aston Villa player to score in five consecutive league games since 2005. This season, he has continued his good form, scoring four goals in his first eight league games. Watkins’ ability to score goals and create chances for his teammates has made him a key player for Villa, and he has been praised by manager Dean Smith for his work rate and attitude.
Yorke’s assessment of Watkins
Dwight Yorke, who played for both Manchester United and Aston Villa during his career, believes that Watkins has the potential to be England’s first-choice striker in the future. However, Yorke also acknowledges that Watkins needs to focus on establishing himself as Villa’s main man first before thinking about his international prospects. Yorke said: “You have to be doing it week on week out for your club, and once he is doing that, England will come calling. He just has to focus on Villa at the moment, and if he can bring consistency to his game then I think he’s got every chance of being England’s first-choice striker in three years’ time.”
Can Watkins replace Kane?
Replacing Harry Kane as England’s first-choice striker is no easy task. Kane is one of the best strikers in the world and has been a consistent goal scorer for Tottenham and England for several years. However, Kane is now 29 years old, and it’s only a matter of time before he starts to decline. Watkins, on the other hand, is still relatively young and has the potential to improve further.
Watkins will face stiff competition from other strikers such as Callum Wilson, Marcus Rashford, and Ivan Toney. However, Watkins’ versatility and work rate could give him an edge over his rivals. He is comfortable playing as a lone striker or as part of a front two, and he is also willing to track back and defend when needed. Watkins’ ability to press high up the pitch and win the ball back could make him an ideal candidate for Gareth Southgate’s system.
Conclusion
Ollie Watkins has the potential to be England’s first-choice striker in the future, but he still has a lot of work to do. He needs to continue scoring goals and creating chances for Aston Villa, and he also needs to improve his consistency. If he can do that, then there’s no reason why he can’t challenge Harry Kane for the number one spot in the England team. However, he will face stiff competition from other talented strikers, and he will need to stay focused and work hard to achieve his goals.