Roy Keane has heaped praise on Aston Villa striker, Ollie Watkins, and the part he played in England’s 3-0 friendly win over the Ivory Coast at Wembley on Tuesday night.
The iconic midfielder added that Watkins ‘grew in confidence’ during the game and the ‘highlight of the game’ was the part the Villa man played in England’s second goal.
After Watkins opened the scoring after Raheem Sterling’s brilliant cut-back, the duo, alongside Jack Grealish, then combined once more for the second.
Harry Maguire fired a ball to Watkins, who took an outstanding first touch, laid the ball off to Sterling, who ran off his shoulder, took a shot that was saved, before Grealish’s first-time ball allowed his Man City teammate to slot home.
In what was Watkins’ first start for his country, it was a great evening of football for the player, as Keane praised the Villa striker, whilst speaking to ITV Sport.
“He grew in confidence,” said Keane. “His link-up play for the goal (Sterling’s). It was a brilliant first touch, then lays it off.
“Lovely play from England. Nice bit of quality. That, for me, was the highlight of the game, the second goal.”
Harry Kane is going to be the main man for England at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but who is next in line is up for grabs.
At Euro 2020, it was Dominic Calvert-Lewin who was selected, but he has hardly played since because of injury.
Tammy Abraham, who is thriving at Roma, seems the next one in line, it was his injury that resulted in Watkins getting a call-up after he wasn’t picked from the original squad.
But the end of this season, as well as the start of the next campaign, is huge for Watkins because he has a chance to earn that all-important golden ticket to Qatar.
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