Ollie Watkins is under new pressure following the arrival of Tammy Abraham at Villa Park
Wayne Rooney on Match of the Day duty.(Image: BBC)
Former England striker Wayne Rooney is warning Ollie Watkins that he needs to up his game to book a seat on the plane to the World Cup.
Watkins showed signs of frustration in what has been “a difficult season” as Aston Villa played out a 1-1 draw with Leeds United yesterday, suggested Rooney on Match of the Day duty.
The 30-year-old has scored eight times in 37 appearances so far this term and Tammy Abraham has returned to Villa Park to give him real competition for game time.
Rooney said: “He has to (respond to that competition from Abraham). In football you have competition. Tammy Abraham has come in and he’s scored goals for Aston Villa before. He looks like he’s settling in very quickly, he’s scored a couple of goals in his last two games.
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“What we don’t see now is clubs with many centre-forwards and Watkins has been the only one but this is the pressure that football brings. You have to deal with it, you have to respond. Certainly if he wants to go to the World Cup he has to perform a little bit better, I think.”
It was Abraham who scored an 88th minute equaliser against Leeds after being thrown on alongside Watkins with 15 minutes left.
Rooney said: “I think Ollie Watkins looks like he’s lacking confidence. He’s obviously had a difficult season and now with Tammy Abraham coming in and lurking behind him maybe he’s feeling a bit of pressure.
“When he gets a chance and you expect Watkins to do well he snatches at it and it wasn’t really a great effort from him.
“What Watkins does well is make good movement behind, he’s direct but you could see he had a shot out of frustration really.
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“When your confidence is low and you need a little bit of luck, he’s marginally offside when the ball bounces back and he thinks he’s got a tap in. He’s out of luck.
“Tammy Abraham comes on and it’s actually a very good goal. His anticipation of the ball getting knocked back across the penalty box. Konza with a great back and he just takes a step across the defender which means the defender can’t get anywhere near the ball.
“That finish off his thigh is excellent. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has one of the best leaps in the Premier League and he just gets it over his head and Aston Villa were very lucky to come away with a point.”
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