Aston Villa currently have three players in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad, who overcame Albania at Wembley and now prepare to take on Latvia.

The routine win against the Albanian visitors on Friday (21 March) saw the trio all feature, as Marcus Rashford and Ezri Konsa both started and Morgan Rogers was given 16 minutes from the bench.

Absent from the squad is Ollie Watkins, who remains at Bodymoor Heath after he was withdrawn at half-time against Club Brugge in the Champions League due to an injury worry.

Watkins ‘disaster’ discussed if he remains out

With Watkins having been substituted by Emery against Brugge last time out, fears have built among the Aston Villa support-base as to whether the perceived knock could in fact be more serious.

It is certainly a situation Emery will be keen to avoid, with his side still fighting in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup – the latter providing the next test with a winnable quarter-final trip to Preston North End (30 March).

Aston Villa sold Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr in a lucrative January deal, leaving Watkins as the sole realistic natural player to lead the line.

But TV commentator Ian Darke, speaking exclusively to Villa News, has played down talk of a “disaster”, claiming that while it would not be ideal for Emery, the team should cope with the attacking talent at their disposal if the England ace was sidelined.

“I wouldn’t say it’s too much of a disaster for Unai Emery as I suppose they’ve got the option of moving Rashford through the middle, with Asensio playing off the front,” Darke said.

“I think they can make do if Watkins is out, but it’s not the situation you want when you’ve recently sold Jhon Duran and you’re still in a few competitions.”

Emery claims Aston Villa frontman had ‘small’ knock

As quoted by Birmingham Live (13 March), Emery remained positive about Watkins’ injury, which has had little update during the international break.

The head coach explained after the win against Brugge: “Ollie Watkins, he told us to change him because he wasn’t feeling good. I don’t exactly know his injury, but I think it is small.

“We used at that moment the chance to use Marcus Rashford as a striker. Really, he played the second half performing well as a striker.”

Watkins’ continuation back home rather than away with Tuchel’s England squad is probably set to be more beneficial for he and his club, who can closely monitor him and ensure there is no aggravation to the knock he sustained.

A close eye will certainly be kept on the Three Lions trio from Villa Park, as well as the multitude of stars currently across the globe with their own respective nations.

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