England head coach Thomas Tuchel is expected to hand Ollie Watkins his first international start in nearly a year when the Three Lions face Wales in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday night.
Captain Harry Kane has been ruled out after sustaining a foot injury while playing for Bayern Munich at the weekend. The 31-year-old striker is aiming to recover in time for England’s World Cup qualifier against Latvia on Tuesday.
Watkins to Lead the Line Against Wales
It is understood that Watkins will replace England’s all-time top scorer as the lone centre-forward against Craig Bellamy’s Wales side.
The Aston Villa striker, 29, has been a regular in England squads since making his debut in March 2021, but his last start came in the 3-1 Nations League victory over Greece in November 2024 — when he scored under interim boss Lee Carsley.
Watkins also produced one of England’s most memorable moments at Euro 2024, scoring a dramatic 90th-minute winner against the Netherlands in the semi-finals to send the team into the final against Spain, which they narrowly lost 2-1.
Rice to Captain in Kane’s Absence
With Aston Villa enduring a difficult start to the new season — Watkins has scored just once, in a 3-1 win over Fulham — Thursday’s friendly could be a key opportunity for him to rediscover his scoring touch.
Meanwhile, Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice is expected to wear the armband in Kane’s absence. Tuchel confirmed earlier this week that Rice was one of three candidates for the role, alongside Jordan Henderson and John Stones.
