Villa News Speaking to Alan Hutton

Fri 14 October 2022 11:14, UK

We’re delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park

Alan Hutton believes Ollie Watkins’ chances of going to the World Cup are over after failing to score regularly for Aston Villa in the 2022/23 season.

The 26-year-old wasn’t involved in Gareth Southgate’s last squad after only scoring one goal so far for Steven Gerrard’s side.

Hutton admits he’d love to see Watkins in the squad but can’t see it happening with the likes of Ivan Toney ahead of him in Southgate’s thinking.

“I’d love to see it but to be honest I can’t, that is just the truth of it,” Hutton exclusively told Villa News.

“I think he gives you a lot in those forward areas and he’s another one that Steven Gerrard has mentioned in regards to seeing more goals from him. He gets in the right areas and had chances against Forest and Leeds, we just need to see him put the ball in the back of the net.

“He’s more than capable of playing at that standard but the World Cup is literally around the corner and there are not many games left now.

“I think Southgate will have his squad in mind and you look at the likes of Ivan Toney, he’s scoring a barrel load of goals and was involved in the last squad and didn’t even play.”

Sadly for Watkins, the 2022 World Cup was probably his only real chance to feature for England at a major tournament. He will be 28 by the time of the 2024 Euros and 30 by the 2026 World Cup.

Considering the array of talent that England have, it would be a shock to see the 26-year-old considered for a squad as his performance level declines.

In other Aston Villa news, Jamie Carragher claims Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa resembles a former Liverpool side