HAPPY OLLIE DAY!
Watkins debut strike seals five-goal rout
OLLIE WATKINS’ dreams came true last night as he burst on to the international scene with a goal on his debut and England cruised to victory over San Marino.
The Aston Villa striker came on as a substitute to score England’s final goal in a comprehensive 5-0 victory as Gareth Southgate’s side got their World Cup qualifying campaign off to a great start. Watkins said: ‘It’s unbelievable, it’s what I’ve dreamt about. I’ve just been hoping to get the chance and enjoy it, to get an opportunity to score and I didn’t think it would happen.
‘I just feel honoured to come here and put on this shirt and play with
these players. To score on my debut — you couldn’t write it. ‘I’m just over the moon. I’m 100 per cent getting the shirt signed and framing it. ‘I didn’t put more pressure on myself, I just wanted to get on the pitch. I have had the chance and I can’t believe it.’ On the possibility of now gatecrashing Southgate’s Euro finals squad, he added: ‘I’ve just got to take each game as it comes, focus on club form, play consistently for Villa — help my team push up the table and get into Europe.’ Southgate said: ‘The reaction to his goal told you a lot about this squad — they were so pleased for him. ‘They make it easy for young players to bed in.’ Despite the comprehensive win, the 5-0 scoreline equalled England’s smallest victory over San Marino — the lowestranked team in the world. And Southgate acknowledged: ‘If I’m being ultra-critical we could have scored more. But the behaviour and habits we showed are what we need to show in every game to be a top team. ‘We respected the game and went about it the right way.’ Southgate had earlier confirmed he already knows his starting line-up for the Euros. Pre-match, Southgate was asked if he had a set picture and replied: ‘Yes. And if they’ve got tournament experience that will be a bonus.’ When asked whether England should have added to their goal tally, Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who scored twice, quipped: ‘You are never happy are you? We scored five, it could have been more. I could have scored more, we had chances to be more clinical. I knew I would get chances but I’m very happy, we achieved what we set out to achieve. ‘We had a large part of the possession and I think it’s all about keeping the standards high.’ On Watkins’ debut goal, CalvertLewin added: ‘He has been really sharp and he’s a nice lad. I know what it’s like to step into the squad. The feeling when he came in, we gave him a clap and we are all happy for him.’ Meanwhile, the Football Association are confident Sunday’s clash in Albania will go ahead as planned despite security concerns yesterday. Marcus Rashford is unlikely to be involved against Albania or in next week’s game against Poland due to a foot injury.