
Ollie Watkins was omitted from Thomas Tuchel's first team because of a small knee injury that he and the Three Lions boss have agreed to rest, claimed a report.
The first team announcement of the German for matches against Latvia and Albania attracted several eyebrows later this month, especially in the forward positions where only two recognized strikers were selected.
Watkins is expected to be part of the group, given its impressive form for Aston Villa this period and in the past seasons, as well as his contribution to the Run of England to the final of Euro 2024.
However, it has now emerged that the 29-year-old will miss the first camp due to an injury that is being sustained in Villas 3-0 Champions League victory at Club Brugge on Wednesday.
According to Sky Sports, Watkins and Tuchel agreed that it would be best for him to miss the slate of international competitions to rest.
Villa will hope that their star man is fit and will shoot matches for their crucial set after the interruption of club football, including quarterfinals in the FA Cup, Champions League and Heavyweight Premier League collisions.
In the meantime, Tuchel will have to do without the hero of England's Euro 2024 semi-final victory over the Netherlands, who had pushed skipper Harry Kane for a starting berth.
His absence of the 26-man selection was one of a number of surprises. Elsewhere, both Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford were recalled by the former Chelsea boss.
Rashford has made nine performances in all competitions for his new club and although he still has to score, the attacker has made a valuable contribution, including four assists.
He has shown signs of a revival under Unai Emery and reacts impressively on the team of Man United in the last weeks of his time in his boy's club.
Henderson has not played for England since November 2023, after he moved to Saudi Arabia and then moved to Ajax.
His last outings in 2023 were marred with protests and angry when fans announced their feelings about what as a controversial move to Al-Eittifaq saw.
Tuchel believes that the 34-year-old can still be a 'large' part of the future of England after the shock call.
“I think his career and the way he now plays and imposes himself on Ajax is just that impressive,” Tuchel said.
'He builds on character, personality and energy that he brings to the team.
'For me, Jordan is a similar call-up for the same reasons as Burn. They wear these values on their shoulders and they wear their teams.
'It is absolutely reliable what they bring in terms of energy and this is where the focus is for us to build a strong team and a coherent team. Jordan is a big piece in that puzzle for us. '
Dan Burn, 32, and Myles Lewis-Skelly, 18, are the two men who look forward to their debut English Senior Kampen.
The defenders enter the team at a time when Harry Maguire and Trent Alexander-Arnold are missing due to injuries.
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