Aston Villa and Wolves players withdrawn from international duty with injury ‘concerns’

Watkins has been withdrawn from the England squad after undergoing an assessment at St. George’s Park. It was concluded that the 15-time senior international would be better off returning to Villa to undergo rehabilitation for what’s been described as an ongoing issue.

The striker hasn’t been at his best since the start of the season - especially in a sharpness sense - so this update won’t come as a surprise for many. It doesn’t sound like anything serious for Watkins and if anything this break should do him the world of good, bringing him closer to peak condition.

Lemina, meanwhile, wasn’t picked by Gabon due to an injury concern, though it’s unclear whether it’s related to the worrying moment during the Nottingham Forest clash on Saturday. The midfielder went down in obvious pain but later returned to his feet and carried on, helping his side claim a point in the 1-1 draw at the City Ground.

Just like with Watkins, it’s bound to be a positive thing for Lemina to miss the upcoming international fixtures. Representing your country is always a proud moment but as captain of Wolves, the midfielder has great responsibility to help his team bounce back after a tricky start to the new season.