Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins: We should keep taking knee

Watkins is currently away with the England squad, who were due to meet last night and discuss whether to take the knee before their upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

There has been growing debate around the pre-match gesture, with Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha recently becoming the first Premier League player to stand since play resumed last June.

Scotland will stand against racism ahead of their game against Austria this week in a bid to call for action and change.

England have taken the knee since international football resumed last September and Watkins, who has been called up by the Three Lions for the first time, said: “We are all going to be together I am sure and have the same final collective decision.

“I feel like we should carry on doing what we are doing, taking the knee.

“People are talking about it and as far as I am aware that is good enough for me. As long as people are still talking about it and remember how powerful it is then we should keep doing it.”

Watkins’ Villa team-mate, Tyrone Mings, last week expressed his belief taking the knee still sends a powerful message.

Mings said: “This is something that we shouldn’t let go or stop without thinking ‘why’ or thinking really deeply as to why we’re stopping.”