Ollie Watkins is in poor form for Aston Villa. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is said to be considering dropping Ollie Watkins ahead of their clash with Crystal Palace after the international break as the striker has failed to score for the Birmingham club in either of his last five games
Villa are currently going through a difficult spell of form after losing their last four games, which has seen them drop from fourth to ninth in the Premier League table and out of the EFL Cup.
Emery’s side will be looking to get their campaign back on track after the international break as there are plenty of winnable games on the horizon.
Aston Villa host Crystal Palace on November 23 and ahead of that game at Villa Park, BBC pundit Nigel Reo-Coker has advised Emery to leave Watkins on the bench so he can “re-energize and fire” before the busy Christmas period of the season.
“I like Morgan Rogers in that No.10 role. You’re obviously talking about Jhon Duran, the impact he’s had as a substitute,” the former Villa star told the review of the Premier League show “I still think Ollie Watkins is there. Maybe it might be time to give Ollie Watkins a little bit of a break, just to get that energy and that fire back.”
Should Jhon Duran replace Ollie Watkins at Aston Villa?
Watkins’ start to the season was compromised due to his involvement in Euro 2024 with England this summer, but after a slow start the 28-year-old has finally returned to the form he showed during the 2023/24 campaign. which sparked the interest of Man United.
The striker has five goals and three assists in 15 games this season, but the Englishman has yet to go five games without scoring.
Jhon Duran’s form will put pressure on Watkins, but Emery should not succumb to pressure from pundits and fans as the difference in quality between the duo is vast. The The Colombian’s time as Aston Villa’s starting striker will comebut it shouldn’t be soon.
