Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has dropped a key update on striker Jhon Duran ahead of their home clash against Wolves.
Jhon Duran is perhaps one of the only strikers in world football who could score three times off the bench and still not make the starting XI.
That is the position the Aston Villa hitman finds himself in as he battles with Ollie Watkins for a place in the side.
Watkins – who hit 41 goal contributions last season – is one of the most talented forwards on the planet and this makes it increasingly difficult for Duran to make that breakthrough.
So far, Duran has earned Villa four points with his goals in 2024/25, returning from the bench in wins over West Ham, Leicester City and Everton, with Unai Emery since dropping a key update on the 20-year-old.
Jhon Duran is ‘close’ to starting for Aston Villa
Duran is in a unique position, as usually, scoring goals from the bench would result in a place in the starting XI.
However, given Watkins is ahead of him in the pecking order and deservedly so, the powerful Colombian is made to wait patiently on the bench.
Duran is doing everything in his power to earn a starting place as he’s firing at a rate of 34 minutes per goal in the top flight; a level so ‘special’ that no other striker in the world can replicate.
Luckily, a place in the starting XI could be on the horizon as Emery confirmed that the forward is ‘close’ to featuring from the off and can perhaps form a deadly partnership with Watkins.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Wolves, Emery said: “He is close to playing in the starting eleven and he has to understand as well in his process how he can manage to play with Ollie Watkins. But of course, I am very happy with how he has started this season.”
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Will Jhon Duran start vs Wolves?
The question on everyone’s minds will be whether Duran makes the starting lineup against Wolves.
Currently, that possibility looks unlikely as Emery confirmed Watkins is fit for selection and is one of the first names on the team sheet.
But Emery’s comments do offer hope that the former Colombus Crew striker will make only his fourth Premier League start at some point.
At the moment however, Duran has been effectively used as a super sub, coming on for Watkins late on in games and invariably making an impact.
His most recent match-winner – a thunderbolt against Everton – showed that Duran doesn’t let the setback of being benched impact him and on Saturday, he will be eyeing his fourth goal of the campaign to beat Wolves.
