Ollie Watkins has been sidelined with an injury and will miss England’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Latvia on Tuesday.
Watkins, 29, suffered a nasty collision with the goal post in the first half of last week’s win over Wales in a friendly match and was substituted at halftime with Marcus Rashford coming on in his place.
The Aston Villa striker had started in place of captain Harry Kane, who missed the match with an injury and scored the Three Lions’ second goal of 3-0 win, slotting home after an assist from Morgan Rogers.
England romped to a 3-0 win over Wales at Wembley last Thursday, with goals from Rogers, Watkins and Saka sealing the win.
Bayer Leverkusen defender Jarrrell Quansah is also set to be absent for Tuesday’s clash after returning to Germany due to an injury in training.
Thomas Tuchel has however received a major boost, with Harry Kane expected to return to the team after participating in Monday’s training session.
Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon is also another option to play through the middle, impressing in the role against Wales last week.
England could book their spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a win over Latvia at the Daugava Stadium on Tuesday night. The Three Lions have won all their five games so far and are currently four points ahead of second-placed Albania with a game in hand.
A win in Riga will take them to 18 points with two games remaining and ensure their spot at next year’s tournament as group winners.
Reece James, Harry Kane and Eberechi Eze were on the scoresheet in the reverse fixture as England recorded a dominant 3-0 win at the Wembley Stadium in March.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
