England have been dealt an injury blow in the forward department ahead of facing Andorra

  • England face Andorra in a World Cup qualifier in Barcelona on Saturday
  • Injured striker will miss Andorra clash and Tuesday’s friendly with Senegal 

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has flown home injured from England’s World Cup qualifying camp in Spain.

Watkins will play no part in tomorrow’s qualifier against Andorra at Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium after feeling tightness at the top of his thigh. 

He is also out of Tuesday’s friendly with Senegal at the City Ground in Nottingham.

The 29-year-old was hoping to add to his 18 caps and five goals but has been unable to train filly during England’s week long camp in Girona. 

He will not be replaced in the squad.

In Friday’s press-conference, Tuchel said Jordan Pickford is his No 1 goalkeeper for now but has warned that the race for World Cup selection has begun, amid pressure from Dean Henderson.

England have been dealt an injury blow in the forward department ahead of facing Andorra

England have been dealt an injury blow in the forward department ahead of facing Andorra

He said: ‘Jordan has been in goal for a long, long time. He earned his place with consistent performances at a high level. Jordan trains at the highest level and we’re very, very happy with him.

‘He’s doing everything to keep his place because he feels that Dean stepped up and found another gear. Dean got a vital title for Palace (the FA Cup) and he was a big figure. This helped his confidence a lot.

‘Then we have the very young James Trafford who played a fantastic, record-breaking campaign with Burnley and got clean sheets.

‘Hopefully he can prove himself in the Premier League next season and then the race is on. It is a fight for every position, there is no exception for goalkeepers.’

You May Also Like

Nottingham Forest showdown with Arsenal next month is set to be moved to avoid Nuno’s high-flyers playing twice in just 48 hours

Nottingham Forest are due to travel to Newcastle before facing Arsenal  The…

Arsenal 0-2 West Ham: Gunners stunned in the title race as Tomas Soucek and old boy Konstantinos Mavropanos earn Hammers famous away win

This was supposed to the Christmas that saw Arsenal put the squeeze…

Chelsea 5-0 Barrow: Christopher Nkunku nets a hat-trick and Ben Chilwell returns from the bench in Carabao Cup clash

If Chelsea are to repeat last season’s run to the Carabao Cup…

Miguel Angel dead: Legendary Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper dies at 76 after 14-month battle with ALS as his former club lead tributes

Miguel Angel played for Real Madrid for 18 years before serving in…