Ollie Watkins confirms he's 'ok' after post collision in England rout of Wales

Ollie Watkins confirms he's 'ok' after post collision in England rout of Wales

Ollie Watkins scored and suffered in equal measure as England cruised to a 3-0 win over Wales in their friendly at Wembley on Thursday, but the Aston Villa striker has since confirmed he's fine.

The forward scored for the Three Lions with a calm finish midway through the first half but gave fans a scare minutes later when he crashed heavily into the goalpost while attempting to add a second.

Watkins received treatment from England's medical team and looked in visible discomfort before being substituted at half-time for Marcus Rashford.

Villa supporters were left holding their breath as their in-form striker, who has been one of the Premier League's standout forwards this season, limped off just before the interval.

England manager Thomas Tuchel offered a reassuring update after the final whistle, confirming the injury was not serious. "He's ok," Tuchel said. "It was a clear goal normally for him, but he saw the ball too late, couldn't score, and crashed into the post.

"It was very painful, but as I understand it, it's only painful, no harm done."

Watkins later eased any concerns with a brief but positive message on Instagram, posting a photo of his celebration with the caption: "That felt good."

His goal capped a dominant first-half burst for England, with Morgan Rogers opening the scoring in the third minute by tapping in from close range after a quick break, followed by Watkins' strike in the 11th minute and a stunning long-range effort from Bukayo Saka in the 19th minute that curled into the top corner.

For Watkins, the night was a reminder of both the fine margins of international football, and his growing importance to England's attacking plans.

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