Aston Villa ace Ollie Watkins explains how he can 'punish' World Cup opponents

Villa star Ollie Watkins is relishing the chance to be an England super sub at the World Cup as he vowed to “punish” tiring opponents.

The Three Lions continue their campaign on Tuesday when they face Ghana in Boston in their second Group L fixture.

With captain Harry Kane the clear No.1 up front, Watkins knows he must again settle for a place on the bench.

But the 30-year-old, who netted a famous late winner as a substitute in a Euro 2024 semi-final against the Netherlands, believes there are advantages to coming on when the game is opening up.

Watkins said: “I was speaking to Jude (Bellingham) about it because he was asking me, ‘what's your mentality?’ As you know, you're not going to play.

“I said I felt like there's no pressure on me, people don't see me playing. They see Harry (Kane) playing, but I know what I can bring to the table.

"I watch the game when I'm on the bench. I see the game open up.

“It's a completely different game when you start a game to when you finish it. There's so many more opportunities when you come on, a lot of people are tired, they lose focus.

“Sometimes it can be better to be a substitute then to start. I watch carefully what the opposition player is doing because when you come on the field, then you get that opportunity to punish them.”

England take on Ghana aiming to build on last week’s impressive 4-2 win over Croatia.

Another victory for Thomas Tuchel’s men would secure their passage through to the knockout rounds, while they would be confirmed as group winners if their final group stage opponents, Panama, fail to beat Croatia later in the evening.

Watkins, meanwhile, revealed how former Three Lions striker Michael Owen has helped bring out a “nastier” side to his game.

The Villa man revealed earlier in the year how he sought out Owen, who scored 40 goals in 89 international appearances, for advice during a difficult start to the season.

Watkins enjoyed a blistering finish, with 11 goals in 12 matches helping fire Villa into the Premier League’s top-four and to Europa League glory.

He said: “I’ve definitely taken that (nastier) element into the games, the back end of the season I think you’ve seen how well I’ve done and that’s why I’m here in that position.

“I definitely felt it helped. There were times when I was maybe a bit too nice on the pitch.

“He gave me an insight into how he felt I could improve and at the end of the day I feel Michael Owen was underrated, really.

“I don’t think people talk about how good he was. Maybe because it was at the start of his career when he had that amazing run. I think if it was later on in his career I think people would hold in much higher regard.

“I think people would hold him in a lot higher regard. It’s good that I have a player of that quality to use as a sounding board.”