Ollie Watkins worries that his lack of celebrity has made it harder for him to advance in his job.
The prolific Aston Villa striker, who was invited back to the England team after an 18-month break, will likely earn his eighth cap on Friday against Australia. He is eager to make up for missing the World Cup the previous year.
Even if the 27-year-old lacks a celebrity girlfriend or podcast, he still hopes that his goal-scoring acumen will keep him in Gareth Southgate’s plans for the 2024 European Championship.
The 27-year-old believes his goal-scoring prowess will be sufficient to keep him in Gareth Southgate’s plans for Euro 2024, despite the fact he is not an Instagram sensation with a popular girlfriend or podcast.
“I get overlooked; my profile isn’t discussed enough,” he claims. “I’m not sure if Villa is to blame.” Some of the players you acquire are well-known and visible. My only concern is that I enjoy playing football. Although I’ve been urged to raise my profile, I’m content with how I’m performing on the field.
You are in the spotlight more the larger you are. Not that I don’t want it, but if I’m performing well, it ought to happen on its own.
Ollie Watkins, who has seven goals in 13 Aston Villa games, is in incredible form.
Watkins’ path hasn’t taken him via a flashy Premier League academy, but rather through Brentford and Exeter. He does not appear to naturally relish the spotlight, despite his insistence that he is not shy.
“There’s no one like Jack (Grealish); he’s like a superstar,” he says.
“I used to routinely go to Sainsbury’s and shop there when I was at Brentford.” I attempted to do it at Villa but was unable. When I wore earbuds, people would ask, “Is that him?” Usually, when I notice that someone is watching me, I try to ignore it. It’s not that I don’t want to socialize, but it gets difficult to shop when someone requests to take their picture.
I’d get home in a rage and tell my sweetie that she has to do the shopping. Afterwards, I haven’t!
I wouldn’t claim to be the loudest person in the space. I take a long time to get comfortable. I am at ease with solitude and content in my own flesh. I can listen while seated at a table. It merely means that I am peaceful, not bashful or uninteresting.
