Missing out on Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the friendlies against Uruguay and Japan clearly stung, but Watkins framed it as a moment that forced him to reset. He had already started to find rhythm again, with an important goal and strong displays against Lille, yet the England setback seems to have given that recovery a harder, more personal edge.
There is a difference between being in form and playing with a point to prove. Watkins looked like a forward doing both.
The report says Watkins finished the season with 11 goals in 12 matches, a surge that pushed him right back into the England conversation. Just as importantly, he spoke about feeling in the best physical condition of his career - the sort of detail managers notice when tournament football is around the corner.
That confidence also fed into Aston Villa’s bigger picture. Reflecting on the club’s silverware, Watkins said: “Os torcedores estavam esperando por isso havia muito tempo, e nós conseguimos. É uma sensação incrível.” Strikers often ride momentum, and few things build it like big goals in meaningful matches.
The challenge now is clear. Harry Kane remains the established reference point, while Ivan Toney offers a different profile and strong competition for minutes. Watkins appears to understand that fight: he is not trying to be a replica of either man, but a valuable alternative.
That may be his strongest case ahead of the summer tournament. If this late-season burst carries into the next England camp, the conversation will not be about why Watkins was left out in March - it will be about how hard he has become to ignore.