Ollie Watkins is determined to make his case for inclusion in England's World Cup squad, despite being left out of the recent friendlies against Uruguay and Japan. The Aston Villa forward, who has been in excellent form for his club, believes the key to securing a spot lies in continuing to score goals in the closing weeks of the season.

Having earned 20 caps for England, including a role in their Euro 2024 campaign, Watkins was notably absent from Thomas Tuchel’s 35-man squad for the friendlies at Wembley. This decision came after a challenging spell in front of goal for the striker, who had struggled to find the net consistently earlier in the season.

However, since the squad announcement, Watkins has found his rhythm once again. He netted four goals in as many games, including a standout moment when he scored his 100th goal for Villa in their 4-0 Europa League victory over Bologna last Thursday.

Reflecting on his exclusion from the previous squad, the 30-year-old expressed his frustration but acknowledged Tuchel's reasoning. Speaking to TNT Sports, Watkins said, “I was disappointed not to be in the previous squad, but I can understand his reasons for not picking me. I just have to do my talking on the pitch and keep performing well and then score as many as I can come the end of the season.”

With England's World Cup preparations in full swing, Watkins remains focused on his goal-scoring form. The national team will face New Zealand and Costa Rica in warm-up matches in June, ahead of the World Cup, which will take place from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

England’s opening match in Group L is set for June 17 in Dallas against Croatia, followed by fixtures against Ghana on June 23 and Panama on June 27.

As the season draws to a close, Watkins knows that his form could play a crucial role in securing a place on the plane to the World Cup.

-Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters