Ollie Watkins endured a frustrating evening at Wembley Stadium (Image: Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Ollie Watkins left 'raging' at Lee Carsley and 'should be knocking on England manager's door'

After Ollie Watkins watched the majority of England's loss to Greece from the bench, one former Three Lions star has told the Aston Villa forward to confront Lee Carsley

11 Oct 2024, 10:35 by Patrick Austen-Hardy · Birmingham Live

Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins has been told to demand an explanation from Lee Carsley after his snubbing during England's home defeat to Greece.

With Harry Kane side-lined by an injury, many expected Watkins to lead the line for the Three Lions in the Nations League. Yet, the 28-year-old found himself on the bench, behind an out-of-position Jude Bellingham, who was deployed as a centre-forward. The bold decision by Carsley also saw Anthony Gordon, Phil Foden, and Bukayo Saka offering support, with Cole Palmer taking up a deeper role next to Declan Rice.

It did not go to plan as Greece repeatedly exposed holes in the England defence before running out 2-1 winners thanks to a brace from Vangelis Pavlidis. After the match, Alan Shearer urged Watkins to find out why he was not included in the starting eleven.

Shearer told the Rest is Football podcast: "You would be absolutely raging if you were Ollie Watkins, wouldn't you? Your main centre-forward is injured and you've been crying out for an opportunity.

"When you've come on, you've actually done alright, in terms of Watkins and he's doing well at club level. Yet, when Kane is out, the manager comes to you and says, 'Well, I'm not going to play you tonight at home against Greece, I'm going to try something different'.

"He's got every right to be [raging], he should be knocking on his door, tonight or tomorrow, saying: 'I have to play the next game if Kane is not fit'."

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Watkins came on as a substitute for Gordon in the 60th minute and nearly scored with his second touch, blasting an effort just over the crossbar after being fed through by Palmer. Carsley also partnered Tottenham forward Dominic Solanke alongside the Villa star in the second half.

While the decision to not start Watkins confused and angered many, Gary Lineker admired Carsley's boldness. The ex-Barcelona forward said: "If he was in the role permanently, you would go 'Well, that's alright' because, let's be realistic, it's a friendly, it's a glorified friendly, it's not a World Cup qualifier.

Carsley chose not to start Watkins against Greece (Image: PA)

"I actually admire him to have the balls, the cojones, to actually try something like that when you are trying to get the job. That was brave and bold and I admire that.

"I'd sooner see that than see us sitting deep like we did in the summer against teams of equal, actually not as good as Greece probably, some of them, and just sitting there and trying to get a counterattack."

Watkins will be eagerly anticipating Carsley's next starting eleven ahead of the Three Lions next Nations' League clash against Finland on Sunday, October 13.

Do you think Ollie Watkins should start for England? Have your say in the comments HERE

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