Ollie Watkins' Resurgence Puts Him Back in England Reckoning

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has put himself firmly back in the frame for a spot in England's World Cup squad with a series of impressive performances for his club. The 30-year-old's recent goal-scoring exploits, including a brace in Villa's 3-1 Europa League win over Bologna, have caught the attention of national team manager Thomas Tuchel.

Watkins was left out of Tuchel's initial 35-man England squad last month, with the manager citing the fact that he knew what the striker could bring to the team. However, Watkins has responded emphatically, adding four goals in his last five games across all competitions.

Former England midfielder Owen Hargreaves believes Watkins' latest display has put him firmly back into contention for a spot on the plane to the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. "If you score two goals in a European knockout tie, trust me your name is back in the mix," Hargreaves said.

With England struggling to find an effective backup option to captain and record goalscorer Harry Kane, Watkins' timely resurgence could not have come at a better moment. Tuchel had previously handed opportunities to other strikers like Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dominic Solanke, but they were unable to impress.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has praised Watkins' consistency and work ethic, even when he is not scoring. "Watkins is a fighter," Emery said. "Sometimes he plays brilliant like today and sometimes not. When he is not scoring we lack something from him. But he always plays well because he his doing his task and working for the team."

With Villa chasing their first trophy in 30 years and a return to the Champions League, Watkins' continued goalscoring form will be crucial. However, the striker will also have one eye on booking his ticket to the World Cup, and his recent performances have certainly put him back in the mix for Tuchel's final squad selection.