Ollie Watkins should ‘knock on Lee Carsley’s door’ if Jude Bellingham starts ahead of him as a striker in England’s clash against Greece.

That’s the view of talkSPORT’s Alan Brazil who sympathised with the Aston Villa striker following reports Carsley is tempted to play Bellingham as a false nine in Thursday’s Nations League match.

GettyWatkins has continued his excellent form for Aston Villa this season[/caption]

Watkins, who netted 19 times in the Premier League last season, has continued his good form this term with four goals in seven league outings.

Meanwhile, Bellingham has been unable to repeat his early-season goalscoring heroics of 12 months ago when he scored five goals in his first seven games for Real Madrid.

The 21-year-old has yet to score for the La Liga giants this season but could still get the nod at Wembley on Thursday with captain Harry Kane out through injury.

talkSPORT understands Carsley has experimented with Bellingham as striker in England training this week and his plan B could spell bad news for Watkins and Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke.

“If I was Ollie, and I know this is easy to say sitting here, but with the type of season he’s having and had last year, if they improvise with someone else even though I know how good Bellingham is, I’d go to the manager and say ‘what are you doing?’ There’s no future in me being here,” Brazil told talkSPORT Breakfast.

“He [Carsley] might say ‘go back to Villa then, fine’ but sometimes you’ve got to make that decision.”

Former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor empathised with Watkins’ plight and claimed the interim head coach is looking at ways to include England’s heavy-hitters at the same time.

“It sounds to me like Carsley is trying to fit in all the stars already,” said Agbonlahor. “If Bellingham can play in a false nine then you can fit in [Cole] Palmer, [Phil] Foden and [Jack] Grealish so I think it’s very harsh on Watkins who’s had a very good start to the season.

Asked whether England would benefit more from having a focus point in attack like Watkins rather than a false nine, Agbonlahor accepted that Bellingham’s form for Madrid last season is proof that team’s can find success without a quintessential marksman.

“I think it can work,” he added. “Last season at Real Madrid, Bellingham was outstanding as a false nine.

Carsley is reportedly planning to experiment in attack against GreeceGetty

Bellingham is being tipped for a new role in England’s starting XIRex

Strikers Watkins and Solanke could find themselves benched in favour of BellinghamGetty

“This season he’s not been as good because you’ve got [Kylian] Mbappe there now so Bellingham’s playing deeper.

“Bellingham may have had a chat with Carsley and said ‘can I play a bit higher’ and Watkins and Solanke miss out.

“But look what Watkins did in the Euro’s, he was outstanding and came on and scored that goal (against the Netherlands). If I’m Watkins I’d be unhappy if I’m not starting.”

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