Striker handed England recall as three Aston Villa players named in squad

The 28-year-old has been named alongside team-mates Ezri Konsa and Morgan Rogers in a 26-man squad by boss Thomas Tuchel.

But there is no place for Marcus Rashford, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since the end of April.

Rashford had been named in Tuchel’s first England squad in March thanks to his form on loan at Villa from Manchester United.

On that occasion there was no place for Watkins, who was recovering from a knee injury sustained in Villa’s Champions League win over Club Brugge.

But he has since returned to fitness and recently became Villa’s all-time top scorer in the Premier League, when he surpassed Gabriel Agbonlahor’s mark of 74 goals.

Defender Konsa started both of Tuchel’s first two matches in charge, which saw England record comfortable wins over Albania and Latvia. Rogers was also named in the starting XI for the second game. 

The Three Lions face Andorra in a World Cup qualifier on June 7 before hosting Senegal in a friendly at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground three days later.

Tuchel has recalled Ivan Toney, who has not represented his country since Euro 2024 following his move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli last summer.

But Tuchel has handed the former Brentford striker a lifeline after he scored 29 goals in 43 games for the Saudi Pro League champions.

Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah is also part of the squad after receiving his first call-up following a successful season for his club.

The 25-year-old, born in Sierra Leone but who has represented England all the way from under-16 level, has played 32 times this season for the Blues as they chase Champions League qualification and Conference League glory.

There is no place for Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden, who recently opened up about his mental health.

Foden has struggled for form this season after an amazing campaign last year and revealed his mental state has suffered.

He vowed to get his head “mentally right” for next season and will not be involved in this camp, having carried an ankle issue.

It is an otherwise strong squad selected by Tuchel for his second camp in the job.

Jude Bellingham is included, despite reports in Spain that he is set for surgery on a troublesome shoulder problem after the Club World Cup later in the summer.