Ollie Watkins Thrives as England's 'Finisher' Ahead of World Cup

Ollie Watkins is set to play a crucial role for England as a 'finisher' in the upcoming World Cup, with the Aston Villa striker looking to make a similar impact to his dramatic winner against the Netherlands in Euro 2024.

The 'finisher' role, as described by England boss Thomas Tuchel, refers to a player who can come off the bench and make a significant impact in the final stages of a game.

Ollie Watkins knows he is behind Harry Kane in the pecking order, but he is excited about the opportunity to contribute to the team's success.

Watkins said: "I think everyone is crucial in this squad, the squad that we have and the players coming off the bench."

He also praised the impact of substitutes in England's recent games, including Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, and Morgan Rogers.

The Aston Villa striker believes that bringing on pacey players who can run forward and score goals is an exciting tactic.

Watkins paid tribute to England captain Harry Kane, saying: "His performances speak for themselves, his goal record speaks for itself and he's very unique in the way that he plays."

Watkins acknowledges that he cannot play like Kane, so he sticks to his own strengths.

Watkins also appeared to suggest that Bukayo Saka trained ahead of England's game with Ghana, which is a major boost for the team.

Saka sat out training on Saturday to do his own programme, but Watkins said: "He hasn't missed a day of training, so that's a good thing."

Watkins believes that managing niggles is very important for a major tournament and that Saka always makes the right decision on the pitch.

Ollie Watkins is looking forward to the World Cup and is excited about the opportunity to contribute to England's success.

The England squad has a good mix of players, with Watkins, Kane, Rashford, Saka, and Rogers all playing important roles.

As the World Cup approaches, Ollie Watkins is ready to make an impact and help England achieve their goals.