Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker have discussed Aston Villa striker, Ollie Watkins after his hattrick against Brighton and Hove Albion.
It had taken the Englishman six games to get up and running in the Premier League, despite a hattrick in the Europa Conference League.
With his first goal coming at Stamford Bridge, against Chelsea, he followed that up with a hattrick against high-flying Brighton.
After a poor start to the season, he is back on the goal-scoring trail and Villa fans will be hopeful he can carry this form forward.
There has been criticism of the striker with some fans being unhappy with his performances so far this season. With that being said, a second hattrick this season has quietened that down.
What have Shearer and Lineker said about Ollie Watkins?
As former strikers, the pair understand the thought process of Watkins and are experts in the matter they are discussing.
Shearer praised the Villa man to begin with: “I like him, he’s certainly very willing and he’s always going to try and get in behind.”
With that being said, there were things he felt could be improved.
On that, he said: “I don’t think he’s a great finisher, I think sometimes his technique lets him down. but he’s always going to get you in and around, in between 10 and 20 goals.
“It is exactly what you need and want. I don’t think he’s elite but he’s certainly in that next level down.”
An almost backhanded compliment, but a compliment nonetheless. Considering the former Newcastle man is the best to ever do it in the Premier League, it doesn’t get much better.
Lineker added: “It’s a hard one because we both played up front and we’ve got some decent records in terms of international and domestic football.
“I think it’s a natural thing, I think it’s a calmness under pressure, I think it’s to be cold at the right moment and not to get too emotional.”
The former Leicester City man believed this was something that may draw him back moving forward.
Discussing this ability, he said: “It’s instant decision making and I think that’s almost a natural talent. The one thing that you can really work on a lot is obviously you can practice your finishing.
“Calmness under pressure, I’m not sure you can learn that. You’ve either got that or you’ve not and making the right decision on a finish, I think, comes with confidence, experience, and calmness.”
Whatever the outside noise is saying, Watkins doesn’t seem to listen and is continuing as he ever did.
