ASTON VILLA striker Ollie Watkins admitted being left out of the England squad gave him the “fire back in my belly.”Watkins’s World Cup hopes appeared to take a terminal blow when boss Thomas Tuchel omitted him for the March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan – the last camp before the German names his tournament squad.But the 30-year-old’s stock increased without him being there as Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dominic Solanke both failed to impress in the absence of Harry Kane and the Villa man has found his form since, scoring six goals in the last six games.

ASTON VILLA striker Ollie Watkins admitted being left out of the England squad gave him the “fire back in my belly.”

Watkins’s World Cup hopes appeared to take a terminal blow when boss Thomas Tuchel omitted him for the March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan – the last camp before the German names his tournament squad.

But the 30-year-old’s stock increased without him being there as Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dominic Solanke both failed to impress in the absence of Harry Kane and the Villa man has found his form since, scoring six goals in the last six games.

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