Watkins Scores 9 Goals After England Snub, Eyes World Cup

Getting left off your national team two months before a World Cup would crush most players, but Ollie Watkins decided to let it launch him instead.

The Aston Villa striker was struggling in early 2025, out of form and dropped from England manager Thomas Tuchel's March squad. Critics started writing him off, questioning whether he'd ever wear the Three Lions jersey again.

Then something clicked. Watkins turned disappointment into determination, and the results speak louder than any comeback speech ever could.

Since that March snub, Watkins has scored nine Premier League goals. That's more than any other player in England's top division during that stretch, including Manchester City's Erling Haaland who has seven.

His latest performance came against Liverpool, where he netted two goals in Villa's 4-2 victory that clinched their spot in next year's Champions League. Across all competitions, he's notched 11 goals in just two months while England captain Harry Kane managed 10.

"A lot of people had written me off this season and I use that as motivation," Watkins said after the Liverpool match. "I think it gave me that fire in my belly to come back and prove to people what I can do."

Villa captain John McGinn watched the transformation up close. "He was obviously disappointed in March but if it gave him a kick up the backside, he's certainly responded in the best way," McGinn said, adding with a laugh, "I wish he was Scottish!"

Why This Inspires

Watkins' story proves that setbacks don't have to define you. When the moment came to either fade away or fight harder, he chose to run straight at the challenge.

His relentless pursuit of excellence didn't just help himself. Villa hadn't qualified for the Champions League in years, and they haven't won a major trophy since 1996. Now they're heading to Istanbul for the Europa League final on Wednesday with genuine hope.

Former Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie summed up what many are thinking: "He's got to be on the plane. Since being left out we've just seen a massive turning of the corner."

The World Cup squad announcement looms just weeks away. Watkins has done everything possible to force Tuchel's hand, transforming from forgotten man to England's hottest striker when it mattered most.

Sometimes the best response to doubt isn't words but action, and Watkins has spent two months proving that every single match.