Credit: Imago

James Barker

Tue 28 April 2026 20:10, UK

Ollie Watkins will now be confident of his place in England’s World Cup squad, as the Aston Villa star sees his Tottenham rival Dominic Solanke suffer a reportedly big injury blow.

Watkins has blown hot and cold for Aston Villa this season, and he certainly hasn’t been at his deadly goalscoring best for significant parts of the campaign.

However, the 30-year-old has been rekindling his form in front of goal over recent weeks, hitting the back of the net seven times in his last nine appearances in all competitions.

This couldn’t have come at a better time for him or Villa, as he looks to make his case for being in the England squad for the World Cup, whilst also helping Unai Emery‘s side to close in on Champions League qualification.

So, with just six games to play in all competitions for Aston Villa this season, Watkins will take all the help he can get regarding his pursuit of being on the Three Lions’ plane.

What has been said about Dominic Solanke’s injury?

Watkins wasn’t called up for England’s March internationals, leaving many to question whether the 20-cap Three Lions international was not in Tuchel’s thinking moving forward.

Because of his March snub, we probably won’t know for certain, unless Tuchel says something on the matter, where the Villa striker stands in his depth chart.

One player who has been on the periphery of the England squad for a number of years now is Tottenham star Solanke, having made his senior debut in a friendly against Brazil all the way back in November 2017.

The 28-year-old hasn’t represented the Three Lions since October 2024, and with six goals in 20 total appearances for Spurs this season, his odds of making this summer’s World Cup looked slim.

And now, writing in a report for The Telegraph on Tuesday, reporter Matt Law has revealed that it’s believed early scans suggests he’s suffered a grade-two hamstring injury.

If that’s indeed correct, Law writes that this kind of injury can take anywhere between three to eight weeks to fully heal, putting his Premier League season and World Cup hopes under serious threat.

Watkins has clear run to England World Cup squad

Seeing players get hurt, especially in an World Cup year, is never something fans or rival players ever want to witness.

But, in this case, Solanke’s injury is very beneficial to Watkins regarding his England chances, as if the Tottenham star can’t go, then the role as Harry Kane’s deputy is surely Watkins’ to lose.

Leeds United’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin is perhaps the only other major contender in terms of an out-and- out centre-forward, as Jarrod Bowen and Marcus Rashford respectively play their best football on the wings.

So, if his resurgence in goalscoring form wasn’t enough to put him back on Tuchel’s selection map, this fresh injury blow to Solanke will surely do so.