'Especially': Chris Sutton thinks Ollie Watkins could be very annoyed by what's set to happen on England duty
10/10/2024 10:45 AM
England face Greece on Thursday evening, and Lee Carsley has a big decision to make heading into this match.
Indeed, with Harry Kane sidelined through injury, Carsley has to find an alternative striking option.
Ollie Watkins and Dominic Solanke are both in the squad, and they would be like-for-like replacements.
However, according to The Mail, Jude Bellingham is in line to start this game against Greece ahead of both Watkins and Solanke.
Speaking on It's All Kicking Off, Chris Sutton has been discussing the idea that Bellingham will start up front in this game, and he says that Watkins would have every right to be annoyed by this selection choice.
Ollie Watkins will be annoyed by Jude Bellingham selection for England
Sutton spoke about how the Aston Villa star will be feeling ahead of the Greece game.
Watkins is more of a recognised striker than Bellingham, and he's been in incredible form over the past 18 months, so, it stands to reason to believe he would start in Kane's absence.
However, reports suggest that Bellingham will start, and Sutton isn't a fan of this decision.
"Playing Bellingham as a nine or a false nine, it's about cramming the best players into the team," Sutton said.
"If there was a criticism at the Euros, England had that issue down the left, and Lee Carsley is doing the same by playing Bellingham as a centre-forward.
"That's not to say Bellingham can't do that, he has a great footballing brain, but if I was Ollie Watkins, especially, moreso than Dominic Solanke, because Watkins has been around it for longer, I would be pretty pee'd off by the fact I wasn't starting."
Watkins deserves a chance for England
Watkins has to be pulling his hair out after hearing he's not going to be starting for England once again.
What more does this young man have to do to get a chance to start for his country?
He delivered when it mattered at Euro 2024, he scored tons of goals for Aston Villa last season, and he's been at it again this term.
In fact, there were even suggestions last season that Watkins was the best player in the Premier League.
Gary Lineker called for Watkins to start the Euros final, but now, he's not even starting a Nations League game.
Bellingham is, of course, good enough to lead the line for England in a game like this, but when a player like Watkins is performing in the way he has, he deserves the chance to shine.
