It wasn’t so long ago that Ollie Watkins couldn’t buy a goal for Aston Villa.
In August, Watkins missed two big chances during the loss to Arsenal and he was receiving verbal pelters after just two Premier League matches.
The 28-year-old didn’t score his first goals of the season until gameweek four when he netted a brace during Aston Villa’s comeback win over Everton.
And now, he is on a roll because he has proven that class is permanent for a reason.
Perhaps Watkins deserves more game time for England, but at Villa, he is proving why he is one of the best in the league and that was showcased at the weekend.
Despite falling behind in a game once again, Unai Emery watched his side secure a 3-1 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage, with both teams having a man sent off.
Ollie Watkins dubbed ‘so underrated’ in the air after Aston Villa beat Fulham
Before Watkins could work his magic, a lot of things went on in the first half, including Emi Martinez saving a Fulham penalty in the first half.
That kept the game level and that’s when the man leading the line for Emery scored another headed goal, this time from a corner.
The England international ran away from his marker and used every inch of his neck muscles to power the home past Bernd Leno.
It resulted in Leon Osman claiming that Watkins is ‘so underrated’ in the air, as he told BBC Sport.
“Ollie Watkins is so underrated in the air,” said Osman. “You would always fancy him in a one versus one, he uses the contact from Emile Smith-Rowe to make space for himself and it is a brilliant header.
“He had to use the power on the ball to guide it into the net, managed to reach it from behind him to smash it in.”
How Watkins does rank in the Premier League heading charts?
Not only is Watkins scoring headed goals, but they are important ones too.
Just this season, he already has three. Against Everton, he pulled the game back to make it 2-1, before the team won 3-2.
At Ipswich, he put Villa 2-1 up following a cross from Leon Bailey and the one at the weekend was the second of a 3-1 win.
As a result, he is leading the heading charts after eight Premier League matches.
| Player | Club | Headers scored | |
| 1. | Ollie Watkins | Aston Villa | 3 |
| 2. | Gabriel Magalhães | Arsenal | 2 |
| 2. | Ethan Pinnock | Brentford | 2 |
| 4. | Dominic Calvert-Lewin | Everton | 1 |
| 4. | Nathan Collins | Brentford | 1 |
| 4. | Lewis Cook | Bournemouth | 1 |
| 4. | Matthijs de Ligt | Manchester United | 1 |
| 4. | Luis Díaz | Liverpool | 1 |
| 4. | Jhon Durán | Aston Villa | 1 |
| 4. | Wout Faes | Leicester City | 1 |
In total, Watkins has scored 19 headed goals for Villa in all competitions, including ten just last season and he already has three to his name
You wouldn’t be surprised if he surpasses last season’s tally!
