England striker Ollie Watkins has praised fellow forward Ivan Toney, insisting the healthy competition between them can only benefit the national team as they prepare for the FIFA World Cup.
With Harry Kane expected to lead the line for Thomas Tuchel’s side, Watkins and Toney are likely to compete for opportunities as impact substitutes and alternative attacking options throughout the tournament.
The pair both played important roles during England’s run at Euro 2024, delivering valuable contributions when called upon from the bench.
Watkins believes England’s attacking depth is one of the squad’s greatest strengths, pointing to the different qualities he and Toney bring to the team.
The Aston Villa forward stressed that having contrasting styles among the strikers gives England greater tactical flexibility during matches.
“I think it’s good, me and Ivan are different players, and you need that, you need to have versatility,” said Watkins.
“At the end of the day, Ivan’s a proven goalscorer, he’s shown it throughout all his career.
“Even in the last Euros, there were times where he came on when the team needed him, and then I had my moment, obviously, in the semi-final as well.
“I think it’s amazing that we’ve got Ive here as he’s a clinical goalscorer.”
Watkins’ comments underline the strong competition within England’s squad ahead of the World Cup.
While Kane remains the undisputed first-choice striker, the availability of experienced alternatives such as Toney and Watkins provides Tuchel with valuable options.
Both forwards have demonstrated their ability to change games from the bench, giving England added firepower as they aim to challenge for the biggest prize in international football.
Despite the competition for minutes, Watkins made it clear that the priority is collective success rather than individual recognition.
England head into the World Cup with one of the most talented attacking units in the tournament, and the partnership between Watkins and Toney could prove crucial whenever the Three Lions need fresh inspiration in the final third.
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