Watkins’ case is no longer built on style points or good links in open play. It is built on end product.
His recent run appears to have come in high-pressure games as well as routine ones, which is what England need from a tournament deputy. The update says he was central to Villa’s run to the Europa League final and also delivered in a key league win over Liverpool that secured Champions League football.
That matters because international pecking orders can change quickly when one forward is finishing chances and others are merely staying in the conversation.
The strongest argument for Watkins may be that the alternatives have not made this decision difficult.
In the same period, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Dominic Solanke and Danny Welbeck reportedly combined for eight goals between them. The report also says chances to impress in friendlies against Uruguay and Japan did not shift the balance.
That leaves Watkins looking like the most complete backup option:
This is not about replacing Kane. It is about protecting him.
The Bayern Munich striker is still England’s first-choice No. 9, but the report notes his heavy workload and the need to manage minutes through a longer tournament. Watkins has already shown he can swing a major game, most memorably with his decisive moment against the Netherlands at Euro 2024.
The next step is obvious: see whether Tuchel’s squad announcement on Friday reflects what Watkins’ form now suggests. If it does, the next storyline will be whether he is trusted not just as backup, but as a starter when England need to rotate.