Phil Jagielka told talkSPORT on Tuesday morning that he would pick Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins over his Leeds counterpart Patrick Bamford for England for this summer’s Euro 2020.
Gareth Southgate was supposed to name his final squad for Euro 2020 today, with a number of Leeds and Villa players expecting call-ups, but he has delayed that decision.
Instead, a much larger squad will be named, before being trimmed down, with Bamford and Watkins hoping for that nod.
Both have been exceptional in Leeds and Villa colours this season, as 40-cap England man, Jagielka, shared who he would pick from the two.
“Who goes next (after Kane and Calvert-Lewin), it’s a difficult one,” said Jagielka. “If you look at Watkins and Bamford, they are the two in-form strikers for the season.
“They deserve a chance. It’s just depending on a number game again. It’s depending on what he wants to do.
“For me, I would probably take Watkins. He can play in different positions. He played off the left and off the right maybe at Brentford a bit more so.
“It’s flexibility, so do we need it when we have people like Foden and Rashford and Grealish etc..? It’s difficult.”
In truth, both Bamford and Watkins are deserving of a call-up because they have been outstanding this season.
And given that Southgate can select 26 players rather than 23, it does increase the duo’s chances of being picked, but more than likely, it will only be one that gets the nod.
Watkins holds the advantage because he has already been called up, scored on debut and the England coaches have already seen at first hand what he’s like at St George’s Park.
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