Ollie Watkins Injured in Post Collision After Close-Range Miss for England

England Striker Ollie Watkins Injured in Collision with Post During Wales Clash
By Lewis Browning, Sports Reporter | Updated: 23:19 BST, 9 October 2025

Ollie Watkins endured a night of mixed emotions during England’s friendly against Wales, scoring early before suffering a painful injury after colliding with the post following a missed chance.

The Aston Villa striker, deputizing for captain Harry Kane, opened the scoring just minutes into the match at Wembley Stadium. A low cross from Morgan Rogers—who had earlier netted England’s first goal—found Watkins at the far post, allowing him to tap in for 2-0. Bukayo Saka added a stunning third, cutting inside from the right and curling a left-footed strike into the top corner.

However, Watkins’ evening took a dramatic turn before halftime. Presented with a golden opportunity to make it 4-0, he skewed a close-range effort wide and collided with the post during his follow-through. Teammates immediately beckoned medical staff as Watkins lay writhing in pain.

(Image 1: Watkins grimaces after crashing into the post. Caption: The striker collided with the post moments after his missed chance.)

ITV avoided immediate replays of the incident, instead focusing on wide-angle shots of the treatment. After several minutes, Watkins gingerly rose to his feet and walked off, earning applause from the crowd. He returned briefly but was substituted at halftime for Marcus Rashford, with Anthony Gordon moving to a central role.

(Image 2: Teammates surround Watkins as medics assess his leg. Caption: England players rushed to assist the injured forward.)

The injury overshadowed an otherwise dominant first-half display from Thomas Tuchel’s side, who were building momentum after a 5-0 World Cup qualifying win over Serbia. Watkins’ availability for upcoming matches remains uncertain, with fans and club side Aston Villa awaiting further updates.

(Image 3: Watkins leaves the field at halftime. Caption: The striker was replaced by Rashford after the break.)

Despite the setback, England sealed a comfortable 3-0 victory, maintaining their unbeaten streak under Tuchel. Nonetheless, concerns linger over Watkins’ fitness as crucial fixtures loom.

Image credits: Daily Mail