Tottenham Hotspur forward Dane Scarlett has been called up to train with the England squad ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Latvia, following the withdrawal of Ollie Watkins through injury.
The 21-year-old joins Thomas Tuchel’s squad as England look to seal qualification for next year’s tournament in North America with two games to spare.
Watkins, who scored in England’s 3-0 victory over Wales last week, was sent home on Monday after failing to recover from a knock sustained during that match.
The Aston Villa striker collided with the post late in the first half at Wembley and was substituted at the interval, with Marcus Rashford replacing him.
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An official statement from England confirmed the news, reading:
“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 described the injury as “very painful” after Thursday’s game but initially played down its severity. However, medical checks since have ruled Watkins out of Tuesday’s trip to Riga.
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England star Ollie Watkins will miss Tuesday night's showdown with Latvia due to injury
|PA
In his absence, Tuchel has drafted in Scarlett to take part in training.
The young striker was pictured alongside England captain Harry Kane in Monday morning’s session, with the national team’s social media account posting: “Good to have you with us, @DScarlett09. #YoungLions forward Dane Scarlett joins the #ThreeLions for this morning’s session at @SpursOfficial.”
Scarlett, a product of Tottenham’s academy, is widely regarded as one of the country’s brightest attacking prospects.
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Dane Scarlett pictured in England training on Monday
|PA
He has made 22 senior appearances for Spurs, scoring once and providing three assists, while also enjoying loan spells at Portsmouth, Ipswich Town and Oxford United to gain first-team experience.
His record at youth level is even more impressive, with 23 goals in 23 appearances for Tottenham’s Under-18 side.
Although uncapped at senior level, he has represented England through the age groups and is tipped for a full international debut in the near future.
Tuchel’s side have been flawless so far in qualifying, sitting top of Group K with 15 points from five games.
Victory over Latvia at the Daugava Stadium would confirm England’s place at the 2026 World Cup with two matches to spare, allowing the final fixtures against Serbia and Albania to serve as ideal preparation for the tournament.
There was more positive news for Tuchel ahead of Tuesday’s game, with Harry Kane expected to return to the starting line-up after missing the win over Wales through injury.
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Ollie Watkins collided with the post during England's 3-0 win over Wales on Thursday
|PA
Rashford, currently on loan at Barcelona, is also an option to lead the line, having operated centrally in the second half of Thursday’s game.
Despite the setback of losing Watkins, the England camp remains confident.
Tuchel’s tenure has seen a seamless blend of youth and experience, with Scarlett’s inclusion further evidence of that balance.
Whether England can now get the job done by qualifying for the World Cup, with two matches to spare, remains to be seen.