Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has come out in support of Ollie Watkins, hailing him as a "fighter" after the striker was surprisingly omitted from Thomas Tuchel's England squad this week. Ollie Watkins, 27, has been in excellent form this season, scoring crucial goals for Aston Villa in their push for a top-four finish in the Premier League. The prolific striker has netted 16 goals in all competitions, including several important strikes in recent weeks. Watkins has been a key player for Villa since joining from Brentford in 2019, forming a deadly partnership with fellow striker Watkins with Jack Grealish. His omission from the England squad was seen as a surprise by many, with some pundits questioning the selection of other forwards. The significance of this development cannot be overstated, as Watkins' omission from the England squad has sparked debate among fans and pundits alike. With the World Cup just around the corner, Watkins' form and fitness will be under intense scrutiny, and his exclusion from the squad is seen as a major blow to his chances of making Gareth Southgate's final 26-man squad. Emery's comments have been seen as a vote of confidence in Watkins, and will likely boost the striker's morale ahead of a crucial run of fixtures for Aston Villa.