Ollie Watkins makes Jhon Duran request to Unai Emery as he reveals what's 'never nice' to accept
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins is excited about the possibility of playing in a partnership with Jhon Duran.
The duo are yet to start a match together this season after struggling to strike a natural relationship on the pitch last term. Villa were 1-0 down in the first half when they started against West Ham back in March, before Duran was hooked at the break and Nicolo Zaniolo scored a late equaliser.
The only other time Unai Emery has experimented by playing both strikers was in the 5-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on the final day of last season when Villa had already achieved a top four finish. The duo have bagged 22 goals combined in all competitions this season and Emery has been giving each an equal opportunity to start matches since December.
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Duran started four successive league games against Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Man City and Newcastle United last month and scored in the first three before being sent off at St. James' Park. While he served a three-match ban, Watkins returned to the starting XI and has scored three times in the last four games.
Watkins' 10th strike of the league campaign came last night against Arsenal as he equalised in the 68th minute just as Jhon Duran was readying to replace him. After scoring to make it 2-2, Emery decided to keep Watkins on the pitch until introducing Duran later in the half.
"I wanted to change with fresh players like Jhon Duran, but after his [Watkins’] goal I tried to take my time as well to find again my target with the minutes we were playing," Emery explained. "Of course, both strikers are helping us. Again, Jhon Duran has to be playing minutes again after one month out to help us and trying to use him as well with his capacity and skills for us."
After full-time, Watkins was asked in a Sky Sports interview about the dynamic with Duran fighting for more minutes.
"It’s never nice to be substituted," Watkins admitted. "I feel like me and Jhon could maybe play up top together. We’ve not had many opportunities to do that. I don’t think we’ve started a game up front together, but no it’s not nice to be substituted but you have to accept the manager’s decision."
He added: "You have got to be on your toes. It is the best I have felt in the past couple of weeks. I am feeling good and want to get to that 20 goals. I am on penalties now and that's the target."
