Jhon Duran has started the new season in remarkable form at Aston Villa, scoring yet another winner in the 3-2 win over Everton on Saturday.
So far this season, Unai Emery has favoured Ollie Watkins to lead the line in all four of Aston Villa‘s matches.
Emery’s decision to stick with Watkins despite drawing a blank in the first three games of the campaign paid off on Saturday as the England striker’s brace helped Villa fight back from 2-0 down.
After scoring winners off the bench against West Ham and Leicester City, Emery again turned to Jhon Duran off the bench and he delivered yet again with a thunderous strike from 30 yards to seal a 3-2 win.
The Colombian is a real enigma who is showing why Villa were so keen to keep him this summer despite Duran’s unprofessional behaviour amidst talk of a potential exit and Emery now has the task of keeping the centre-forward happy.
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Gabby Agbonlahor does not expect Jhon Duran to settle for Aston Villa substitute role
It is understandable that Emery has so far persisted with Watkins to lead the Villa line in the early weeks of the season after 40 goal contributions last season.
However, Duran’s form and goal to game ratio is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore for Emery.
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Whilst Duran seems happy for now, he will feel that his heroics should be rewarded with a place in the Villa starting XI and the club’s record Premier League goalscorer Gabby Agbonlahor certainly does not think he will hide that opinion.
Agbonlahor said of Duran on TalkSPORT on Monday morning (8:55am): “From what I am hearing from people at the club is that he is one that will bang on the door every day, to be honest. I don’t think that’s going to change.”
Can Unai Emery pair Duran and Ollie Watkins for Aston Villa?
In the opening three games of the season Duran has replaced Watkins in a like for like substitution.
However, chasing a winner against bottom of the table Everton, Emery decided to throw Duran on alongside Watkins and it was a decision that paid off.
Generally, Emery likes to play with one out-and-out centre-forward and a second striker who can play between the lines and link play.
Last season this was primarily Moussa Diaby, whilst Morgan Rogers has adopted this role in the early weeks of this season.
Duran and Watkins showed against Everton that they can play as a pair, although Emery may not want to do this from the start too regularly as it could effect the balance of the team.
A solution may well be required, though, with Duran not one to settle for second best and perhaps Emery could reward the youngster with a start against Young Boys in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.
