Ollie Watkins stepped up to the plate again for Aston Villa on Saturday by netting a brace during his side’s 3-2 win at Luton Town.
If Unai Emery is to secure Champions League football at the end of the season, then Julien Laurens feels the man leading the line will fire them there.
The European football expert lauded Ollie Watkins for having an ‘outstanding’ season in Aston Villa colours and how ‘we are sleeping on him’, as he told ESPN.
The French journalist feels the 28-year-old needs more recognition after scoring goals number 15 and 16 of the season at the weekend.
What is even more impressive about the Euro 2024 hopeful is that he also has ten assists to boot and is the only Premier League player, at the moment, in double figures for both.
Added to that, no player has been involved in more goals (26) than the man from Villa Park causing havoc.
These are huge numbers from Ollie Watkins and he is once again proving that he belongs with the elite and you just feel it can still get better.
Ollie Watkins’ performances for Aston Villa
“For me, the main reason is Ollie Watkins and the form he has been in,” said Laurens.
“Douglas Luiz has been pretty fantastic too. Leon Bailey also had a dip in form, but now he is coming back strong.
“But Watkins has been outstanding this season. I think he is the only player in the Premier League to have at least ten goals and ten assists. Nobody else right now, or maybe another one and that’s it.
“It’s a pretty outstanding season. We are slightly sleeping on him and maybe recognising the great season he is having because he carried them when they weren’t good at the start of the year.
“Now, they are back to their best, really pushing for that fourth place. They know behind them Spurs won earlier, so they were aware of that result. They know they have to keep winning to secure that fourth space, it won’t be easy, but as long as Watkins keeps scoring, then they will be in a great position.”
Ollie Watkins PFA Player of the Year?
At the rate Watkins is going, he deserves to be in this conversation and a possible nomination for the PFA Player of the Year.
Phil Foden is smoking it at Manchester City, Declan Rice is bossing it in midfield for Arsenal, whilst Mohamed Salah is proving why he has been one of Liverpool’s greatest-ever players.
But Watkins is amongst those names and you would imagine it will only get better if the team secures fourth spot and wins the Conference League.
A lot of football is yet to be played, including a two-legged affair against Dutch giants Ajax, sandwiched in between a very crucial clash against Tottenham.
