Both stars have impressed under Unai Emery at Villa Park so far this season, especially Watkins who has been one of the Premier League’s best strikers, scoring 19 goals and laying on 12 assists in 33 league matches this season.
Gareth Southgate named both Villans in his Three Lions squad for March friendlies against Belgium and Brazil, but there had been suggestions from pundits that the England boss would leave them out of his 23-man squad for this summer’s tournament.
But reports from the BBC (23 April) now suggest UEFA will expand squad sizes to 26 players and Hutton believes that Watkins and Konsa could now both feature for the Three Lions in Germany come the end of the season
“I think Watkins goes either way, you’ve got to take him,” Hutton told Villa News.
“How could you not? He’s a guy who plays in several positions, he can play out wide if you really need him to, and he can play as a striker if anything were to happen to Harry Kane which England fans won’t want. He can do a number of jobs.
“I know people were talking about Ivan Toney, being a striker and being in really good form as well but he plays in that position as well. I think Ollie Watkins can be versatile if need be so I think he’s going to go anyway
“Whether it opens it up for the likes of Konsa, I think that’s a better one to talk about because he would have been on the cusp of being in the squad, but I think with the squad being a little bit bigger.
“It really depends on Southgate, what he sees and what he needs. Does he need more attacking options when he’s got plenty? When you start to look at midfield, centre-half, depending on Harry Maguire’s form between now and the end of the season, do you need other options?
“I think Konsa fits that bill.”
Will Aston Villa stars Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa leave Villa Park for Euro 2024?
It’s hard to argue that both Watkins and Konsa don’t deserve their place at this summer’s tournament. They have been two of the most consistent players in a team that is now in the driving seat for Champions League football next season.
While Southgate has plenty of talent to pick from, particularly in the forward areas, it has become impossible for the England boss to ignore the talent and form of the squad at Villa Park, especially given his lack of defensive depth.
Hopefully, Hutton’s prediction will be correct and both players will be included in the Three Lions 26-man squad this summer. All Villa supporters will just be hoping that a good tournament won’t increase the transfer interest in both stars.
In other Aston Villa news, Bayern Munich still want to hire Emery despite new contract developments at Villa Park
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