JOE BERNSTEIN: Ollie Watkins must be given a shot with England after Aston Villa striker nets hat-trick against Brighton in front of the watching Gareth Southgate

•  Ollie Watkins deserves an England recall following impressive start to season
•  Aston Villa striker scored a hat-trick in 6-1 demolition of Brighton on Saturday
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Ollie Watkins regards himself as a far better striker now than when he won his last England cap 18 months ago.

Watkins did his prospects of an international recall no harm at all by scoring a hat-trick in front of England boss Gareth Southgate on Saturday.

The squad for this month’s games against Australia and Italy is named on Thursday, and Watkins insisted there is no comparison to the player who made the last of his seven England appearances against Ivory Coast in March 2022.

‘I’m definitely better now,’ he said. ‘I’ve learned a lot in a short space of time. I’ve improved my movement and mentality, how to be patient.’

Besides the arrival of manager Unai Emery, who has taken Villa into the top six, Watkins’ own sessions with Villa coach Antonio Rodriguez Saravia have paid dividends.

Ollie Watkins continued his good recent form with an eye-catching display in Aston Villa’s 6-1 win against Brighton on Saturday

The striker took home the match ball after netting a hat-trick against the Seagulls in front of England manager Gareth Southgate

Watkins last featured for England in March 2022, and he says he is now a much better player 18 months later

‘I work closely with Rodri. We do extra every day out on the training field,’ explained Watkins. ‘Sometimes we may just watch videos and analysis. He is the key for me. He’s helped me so much.’

The 27-year-old did not even know the England manager was at Villa Park until he had completed his hat-trick.

‘John McGinn told me on the pitch when I scored my third that he was up in the stands,’ said the former Brentford centre forward. ‘Look, I think I’ve done enough. I’ve just scored three goals against a top-five team. I can’t do any more, so it is up to him.’

Watkins was the big difference between rampant Villa and surprisingly passive Brighton.

Two clinical finishes inside the first 21 minutes set the tone. Villa added a third before the interval, through Pervis Estupinan’s own goal, and though Ansu Fati pulled one back, the home side replied with further goals from Watkins again, Jacob Ramsey and Douglas Luiz. They have now won 10 consecutive league games at Villa Park.

Jacob Ramsey and Douglas Luiz also got on the scoresheet against Brighton, with visiting defender Pervis Estupinan scoring an own goal to add to his side’s misery

Villa have now won 10 consecutive league matches at home under the guidance of Unai Emery

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi will have to pick his men up before their big Europa League trip to Marseille on Thursday. The Seagulls have yet to keep a clean sheet this season and De Zerbi said: ‘We are conceding too many goals at this moment but we have to speak honestly. When we lost Moises Caicedo, we lost a very important characteristic and we are playing in a different way.

‘Only (Carlos) Baleba can play with the same characteristic but he is not ready yet. He has to improve, understand our style.

‘The pressure of our attackers is not so strong at this moment and we are suffering with the defenders.’

Baleba, 19, joined Brighton from Lille this summer for £23million and De Zerbi’s defensive concerns suggest the combative midfielder will be given a part to play as the season progresses.

MATCH FACTS 

Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez 6: Cash 7, Konsa 6, Torres 6, Digne 6.5; Luiz 6, Kamara 6.5 (Tielemans 90); McGinn 8, Diaby 7.5 (Duran 79), Zaniolo 6 (Ramsey 56 6.5); Watkins 9 

Subs unused: Olsen (Gk), Carlos, Chambers, Lenglet, Dendoncker, Traore

Goals: Watkins 14′, 21′ 65′,  Estupinan (o.g, 26), Ramsey 85′, Luiz 90+7

Booked: Luiz, Duran, Konsa, Digne

Brighton (4-2-3-1): Steele 5.5: Veltman 5, Dunk 6, Webster, Estupinan 5 (Lamptey 45 6); Gilmour 7, Hinshelwood 6 (Baleba 87); March 6 (Adingra 62 6), Welbeck 5.5 (Fati 45 7), Mitoma 6; Ferguson 5.5 (Pedro 45 7)

Subs unused: Vertbruggen (Gk), van Hecke, Julio, Dahoud

Goals: Fati 50′

Bookings: Welbeck, Fati, Mitoma, Dunk

Referee: Andrew Madley 6 

Attendance: 40,636 

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