'Very, very painful' - Ollie Watkins injury update offered by Thomas Tuchel after England striker forced off in Wales win following brutal collision with post

It was a painful watch. Earlier in the first half, Watkins had shown his killer instinct, darting into the box to bundle home from close range after Morgan Rogers’ cross was flicked on by Marc Guehi, doubling England’s advantage after just ten minutes. But when the chance came to make it 4-0, following Bukayo Saka's stunner, things went horribly wrong. As a low cross fizzed through the six-yard box, Watkins lunged in, only to skew the ball over and make far more of an impact with the post instead. He stayed down, clearly in a severe amount of pain, as his team-mates rushed over in concern. Referee Urs Schnyder quickly summoned the medics, and the sight of England’s medical team sprinting onto the pitch told the story that this looked bad.

TV cameras turned away as Watkins was treated, with ITV choosing not to replay the moment, a decision that said everything about the severity of the collision. Instead, the broadcaster cut to a wide shot showing anxious team-mates forming a huddle nearby, while the crowd held its collective breath. After a few tense minutes, a round of applause erupted around Wembley as Watkins slowly got back to his feet. Limping but defiant, the striker insisted on finishing the half.

Thankfully, the early diagnosis is one of relief rather than despair. Speaking after the match, Tuchel offered a calming update that will soothe both Aston Villa and England fans. 

"He’s OK, it was a clear goal normally for him," Tuchel said of Watkins. "Unfortunately, he saw the ball too late and couldn’t score and crashed into the post. It was very, very painful, but as I understand it now, it’s only painful, so no harm done."

Watkins’ start came with England captain Harry Kane still sidelined due to a knock sustained in Bayern Munich’s 3-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend. Kane was deemed unfit to play, with Tuchel revealing that the 32-year-old had been struggling to even strike a ball in training.

"Harry will miss the game," Tuchel said pre-match. "He got a kick in his last match with Bayern Munich. It was too painful to kick a ball, it was too risky that he gets another kick and will just like be in an up and down situation pain-wise, so we gave him the chance that everything calms down. We are convinced that he will be ready for the match against Latvia."

England face Latvia on Tuesday night in their next World Cup qualifier, and if Kane returns, Watkins could well be back on the bench, though after his battling display, he’s certainly strengthened his claim for more minutes.

Having crushed Serbia 5-0 last month, the Three Lions picked up right where they left off, fast, fluid, and fearless. Morgan Rogers’ opener set the stage, Watkins doubled the lead, and Saka provided the moment of magic, cutting inside from the right and unleashing a wicked curler into the top corner for 3-0 inside 20 minutes. It was the kind of attacking attitude Tuchel has been drilling into his side since taking over, and it’s paying off.  

If Watkins’ night ended painfully, his Aston Villa team-mate Rogers had one to remember forever. The young attacker bagged his debut England goal inside three minutes, a crisp first-time finish beyond Karl Darlow that set the tone for the evening. 

"Right at the top," said a grinning Rogers when asked where his goal ranked among his career highlights. "It's a proud moment to do it at home too in a home nation derby. A dream come true. The quality of players we have with people here and not here, you can never be too comfortable, or else people will take your role."

It was a night that summed up the essence of modern England: drama, goals, grit, and glory. Watkins’ agony, Rogers’ rise, Saka’s spark, all rolled into one thunderous Wembley evening. With five wins from five in Group K, England sit comfortably at the top of their World Cup qualifying table. Latvia awaits on Tuesday, and while the focus will be on maintaining the perfect record, eyes will also be on Watkins’ recovery and Kane’s potential comeback. For now, though, England can breathe easy: their striker’s scare wasn’t the disaster it looked.