MATT Jay says his friend Ollie Watkins is fully focused ahead of England’s Euro 2024 final against Spain tonight - and is eager to see the striker shine in Berlin.
Colchester United attacker Jay has been close friends with Watkins since their school days, having progressed through the Exeter City academy and into the first team together along with having a loan spell at Weston-super-Mare.
Jay was delighted to see his former team-mate come off the bench to score England’s dramatic late winner in their 2-1 semi-final victory over the Netherlands, on Wednesday night.
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The 28-year-old U’s forward is eager to see Watkins play another big part tonight, as England go in search of European glory in Berlin.
Jay said: “I’m hoping he gets on in the final and does the business for the country.
“He’s in a bit of a whirlwind at the moment – I sent him a text and he’s loving it but he’s fully concentrating on the task ahead.
“It’s been amazing. The whole competition has been really good.
“Ever since he got the nod that he was going, his close friends were very, very excited for him and just hoped that he got his chance on the pitch.
(Image: ADAM DAVY/PA WIRE)
“He’s had a few opportunities and he’s taken the biggest one, on Wednesday night.
“He just offers something different to what the rest of the team do.
“England have a lot of really intricate play and Ollie just offers that rawness that shows where he’s come from.
“Sometimes the best thing is to go in behind them and get your shot off early and that’s what he did and he took his goal really, really well.”
Jay and Watkins played together in the Exeter first team, forming a prolific attacking partnership.
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Watkins then departed to join Brentford in 2017 before three years later moving on to Aston Villa, where he has established himself as one of the Premier League’s leading strikers.
Jay says he is proud to see his friend’s achievements and follows his progress closely.
He added: “We don’t see so much of each other at the moment or haven’t done for a couple of years because geographically, Colchester’s not close to anywhere!
“I might as well be back down in Devon, as it’s probably closer to get to Birmingham!
“But we obviously still stay in touch and the families are close.”
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