Marley: I’ve got it all to play-off for
Watkins’ Wales World Cup dream ABERDEEN
TONIGHT, 7.45PM, PITTODRIE MARLEY WATKINS is desperate to fire Aberdeen back to form – and himself into the World Cup reckoning with Wales.
Injuries have restricted the Dons striker to just one more cap since making his debut in November 2017.
But with a semi-final play-off against Austria and a potential shoot out with Scotland for a place at Qatar 2022 looming in March, Watkins is eager to get back involved with Rob Page’s Dragons squad, alongside Dons pal Ryan Hedges.
Watkins, who will be looking to take care of Livingston tonight, said: “It’s a great draw, I hope both teams get through their semi-finals – and Wales will win!
“It would be a great game, but we have to get there first.
“Will I be aiming to be involved? Why not? If you are doing well for your club then you give yourself a chance.
“It would be awesome so the target is there for me and for Ryan Hedges.
“If we can get more goals and get our stats up then we could get an opportunity.
“I can understand why I dropped out, I have had injuries so it has been stop-start in the last few years.
“But you always hope you can put yourself in the frame again.
“Playing well for your club is what you have to do, so I will just focus on that, hopefully help Aberdeen win games and see what happens.”
Watkins knows Dons have to get back to winning ways after losing their last three games, but he knows it won’t be easy against Livi.
He said: “Livingston scrap and battle well so we will have to be up for the fight. If we can match their scrap then hopefully the quality comes through.
“Everyone knows we are not in a good position for Aberdeen and it’s disappointing but we have been in every game and it’s fine margins.
“It looks worse than it is, but we need to be better in attack and get the wins. We need to show character, stick together and go out and beat teams.”
Dylan McGeouch is out for Dons tonight but Funso Ojo is back from his ban and boss Stephen Glass believes skipper Scott Brown will be fit.
Glass added: “It will be a battle, but we will be ready for it.”
Marley Watkins helped launch the new 2021/22 SPFL Sticker Collection – for more news and info follow @Topps_ UK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to Topps TV on YouTube.