England have been dealt a blow ahead of their World Cup qualifier with Latvia on Tuesday evening, with one of their most proven goal threats being sent home from training with an injury
12:47, 13 Oct 2025Updated 12:48, 13 Oct 2025
Dane Scarlett has received a call-up to England training(Image: Soccrates Images, Getty Images)
Young Tottenham striker Dane Scarlett has been caled up to train with the England squad after Ollie Watkins left the camp due to injury. Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup qualifiers have been a roaring success so far, with the Three Lions comfortably perched at the top of Group K with 15 points, courtesy of five victories in as many matches.
However, there’s still a job to be done if England are to secure their place in next year’s tournament in North America. If they manage to triumph over Latvia on Tuesday evening at the Daugava Stadium, they will qualify for the major tournament with two games to spare, allowing them to use their remaining matches against Serbia and Albania as a victory parade of sorts.
England suffered a significant setback on Monday when Aston Villa forward Watkins was sent home from training due to an injury he picked up during England’s 3-0 drubbing of Wales last week. Consequently, he will not be making the journey to Latvia.
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The official England social media account posted on X: “Ollie Watkins has been ruled out of tomorrow’s @FIFAWorldCup qualifier against Latvia, having not recovered from the knock sustained against Wales. Speedy recovery, Ollie!”
Tuchel had Watkins in his starting line-up against Craig Bellamy’s Wales, where he found the back of the net in the first half along with Morgan Rogers and Bukayo Saka. However, after missing a chance later in the half, Watkins collided with a goal post and required treatment on the pitch.
He was replaced by Marcus Rashford as the second half kicked off, and while Tuchel described him as “OK” after the match, he has since left the camp. It’s still uncertain whether he’ll be fit for Villa’s showdown with Tottenham on Sunday, 19th October.
Thankfully for England, Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane should be back in action on Tuesday after missing the Wales game, while Barcelona loanee, Rashford, could also be played centrally rather than on his preferred left-hand side.
Dane Scarlett has been training with England(Image: PA)
Following Watkins’ departure from the camp and return to Villa, Tottenham prodigy Scarlett was called up by Tuchel to participate in the morning session at Spurs’ Hotspur Way training ground.
England took to social media to share a snap of the 21-year-old during a training session alongside Kane, writing: “Good to have you with us, @DScarlett09. #YoungLions forward Dane Scarlett joins the #ThreeLions for this morning’s session at @SpursOfficial.”
Ollie Watkins picked up a knock against Wales(Image: Getty Images)
A product of the Spurs youth system, the forward has made 22 appearances for Tottenham so far, contributing a goal and three assists – although, he has mainly spent time on loan at Portsmouth, Ipswich Town and Oxford United to continue his development.
He has also netted 23 goals in 23 appearances for Spurs’ Under-18s side, and is tipped to be a big player in the future. He is yet to make a senior appearance for England as of yet.
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