Watkins out of England's games against Andorra, Senegal with injury
The 29-year-old, who scored 17 goals and provided 14 assists in 54 appearances in all competitions for Aston Villa in the recently concluded season, has been capped 18 times for England, netting five times.
With Watkins' withdrawal, captain Harry Kane and Ivan Toney remain England manager Thomas Tuchel's striker options for their two upcoming games.
England play Andorra in a 2026 World Cup qualifier in Spain on Saturday before hosting Senegal for a friendly match on Tuesday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Thomas Mueller joins Vancouver Whitecaps with title-winning ambition
GERMANY and Bayern Munich great Thomas Mueller said Thursday he remains focused on winning titles as he prepares for Major League Soccer life with the Vancouver Whitecaps. The Whitecaps officially unveiled their new signing one week after he inked a deal through the end of the 2025 MLS season, with an option for 2026. Mueller, whose tenure with Bayern Munich included 13 Bundesliga titles and two Champions League triumphs, said his move to North America doesn't mean his appetite for trophies has decreased. 'I was always a competitive guy during my whole life, and my love is to play, to play soccer,' the 35-year-old said. 'And my body feels, even in (this) stage of my career, too good to retire. 'I know that a player with my career coming to Vancouver (is) creating a little bit of a hype,' added Mueller, who helped Germany win the World Cup in 2014 but retired from international duty last year. 'And we want to stay on the hype train as long as possible.' The Whitecaps are in second place in the Western Conference, four points behind San Diego and one in front of Minnesota. Vancouver sporting director Axel Schuster called Mueller's arrival 'the greatest day since I have joined the club'. 'It's a great time and a good time to be a Vancouver Whitecaps supporter,' he added. Mueller indicated he was hoping to take the field with his new team on Sunday when the Whitecaps host Houston Dynamo FC, although coach Jesper Sorensen did not confirm the new arrival's availability. Nevertheless, Mueller made it clear he is laser-focused on his Whitecaps future. 'It's not about winning titles in the past,' he said. 'It's winning titles in the future. That's what motivates me.' - AFP
Free Malaysia Today
4 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Man Utd in ‘no man's land' due to lack of plan, says Rashford
Marcus Rashford seems to have played his final United match, with his Barca loan move including a €35 million purchase option. (EPA Images pic) MANCHESTER : Marcus Rashford decried Manchester United's lack of strategy as leaving the English giants in 'no man's land' after joining Barcelona on loan. The 27-year-old, who played 426 times for United after coming through the club's academy, left Old Trafford in January for a loan spell at Aston Villa after falling out of favour with new manager Ruben Amorim. United went on to have their worst season since being relegated in 1973/74 as they finished 15th in the Premier League and failed to qualify for European competition. Rashford believes the root of United's problems is in the instability caused by appointing six different managers since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. 'We have been way below where we deem United to be but then if you take a step back, which I've been able to do, especially over these last six months, what do you expect?' Rashford told the Rest Is Football podcast. 'When Liverpool went through this, they got (Jurgen) Klopp, they stuck with him. They didn't win in the beginning. People only remember his final few years when he was competing with (Manchester) City and winning the biggest trophies. 'To start a transition, you have to make a plan and stick to it. It's not easy to do. But this is where I speak about being realistic with what your situation is. 'We've had that many different managers, different ideas and different strategies to win that you end up in no man's land.' United have failed to even contend for the Premier League title or the Champions League since Ferguson's departure. Rashford is one of the few success stories for the Red Devils in that time. After breaking into the team as an 18-year-old in 2016, he went on to score 138 goals for the club, winning two FA Cups and two League Cups. However, he believes the winning culture embedded during Ferguson's 27-year tenure has been worn away. 'When Ferguson was in charge, not only were there principles for the first team but they were for the whole academy,' Rashford added. 'Any team that has been successful over a period of time, they have principles that mean that any coach or player that comes in has to align to or add to the principles. 'At times, United were hungry to win… but it was reactionary. If your direction is always changing, you can't expect to win the league.' Rashford appears to have played his last game for United with his move to Spanish champions Barca containing an option to buy for a reported €35 million (US$41 million).
The Star
18 hours ago
- The Star
Rugby-Welsh club Nant Conwy boast two sets of sisters in Rugby World Cup squad
(Reuters) -North Wales team Nant Conwy are brimming with pride as two sets of the club's sisters prepare to represent the country at the Women's Rugby World Cup that kicks off next week in England. Nel and Branwen Metcalfe have been named alongside Gwenllian and Alaw Pyrs in Wales coach Sean Lynn's 32-player squad who open their campaign against Scotland on August 23 in Manchester. While the Pyrs sisters have played together before, it will be a new experience for the Metcalfes, with Wales Under-20s captain Branwen yet to earn her first senior cap. "I'm lost for words," Branwen told the BBC. "It's been a whirlwind year. I haven't trained much with the squad yet, but it's been really great coming into this environment, I'm learning a lot as I go. "Everyone is really nice and it's nice to come in as a young player with all these experienced players," she added, mentioning Alex Callender and Kate Williams among her role models on the team. Sister Nel said "the family is buzzing." "People have asked, 'How do you feel?'. I couldn't be prouder," Nel told the BBC. "I've seen how hard (Branwen) has worked, she deserves this. "I would say I do look out for her (in camp) and check she's ok, but she can handle herself, everyone has been pretty welcoming." While Wales has had siblings before with the Horgan twins Clair and Louise playing together against France in 2008, having two sets of sisters from the same grassroots club is something to celebrate, said Nant Conwy Chairman Marc Jones. "Congratulations to the girls, their achievements are down to their total dedication and commitment," he said. Wales conclude the group stage with games against Canada on August 30 and Fiji on September 6. The team's best World Cup finish was fourth in 1994. They made the quarter-finals at the last World Cup held in 2022. (Reporting by Lori Ewing; Editing by Ken Ferris)
