Unai Emery could be spared having to decide between Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran due to the England striker carrying an injury into tomorrow’s clash with Nottingham Forest.
Watkins has been first-choice in the sole striking role this season but Duran has scored six goals off the bench – the most of any player in Europe’s big-five leagues, including a long-range effort in the midweek Champions League victory at RB Leipzig.
The Colombian came on at half-time in Germany with Watkins sustaining a niggle that could see him miss the short trip to the City Ground.
Emery said: “I don’t know [if Watkins will be available] because we are waiting.
“Yesterday [Thursday] he was recovering and this afternoon we are going to train. If he trains normally and he is feeling good, he will be available tomorrow.”
Heading to East Midlands 🔜 pic.twitter.com/fTBEidULHZ
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 13, 2024
Emery impressed by Watkins
Although Duran has grabbed the bulk of the headlines this season, Emery was quick to praise the contribution of Watkins.
The Spaniard added: ”Ollie started this season with different circumstances from what he was usually doing in the years before because he was with the national team [at Euro 2024].
“His improvement was clearly demanding he go one step forward in his career and the position is different after playing more matches and finishing later.
“He started a bit under his feet and with some more pain and injuries, but he was more or less available to help the team and he did fantastic.
“We also had Jhon Duran to help… and being successful as well. This is the best for us now – two important strikers, one in Jhon who has big potential and another who has consistency with us.
“Even when he [Watkins] is playing not 100 per cent for some small injury, but being available to play, he’s always doing his work and being successful in everything we need in each match. I can’t say nothing bad about him. For us, he’s our striker with Jhon Duran and he is a good example for others.”
Villa need to improve record after European games
Villa have won just one of their five league games that have followed Champions League encounters this season but Emery was not having European commitments as a justifiable reason for their inconsistent domestic form.
“We are not going to use it as an excuse ever to play a lot of matches in Europe because we want it. We have to learn and try to get experience,” he said.
“The experiences we had last year were fantastic and this year, we’re having very good experiences in Europe and playing matches that are demanding in our way.
“More or less, we are feeling comfortable and we are trying to be in our demands in the high level we want. Sometimes there hasn’t been consistency, but it is our ambition to be consistent in the future with those circumstances.”
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