---
title: "Kevin Phillips predicts Wesley to benched for the foreseeable future"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2020/11/17/kevin-phillips-predicts-wesley-to-be-benched/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ben Crump"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2020-11-17T09:00:23Z"
modified: "2020-11-17T09:00:23Z"
---

# Kevin Phillips predicts Wesley to benched for the foreseeable future

Kevin Phillips believes that Aston Villa striker [Wesley](https://readastonvilla.com/2020/11/09/danny-mills-wesley-aston-villa-struggles-first-xi/) will struggle to get back in Dean Smith’s starting XI given the form of Ollie Watkins.

The Brazilian striker joined Villa last summer from Belgian outfit Club Brugge in a [£22m deal](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11741270/aston-villa-sign-wesley-moraes-from-club-brugge-for-22m) and he bagged himself [five goals in 21 appearances last term](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/wesley/leistungsdaten/spieler/381362).

Despite his gradual adaptation to life in England and in the Premier League, the 23-year-old suffered a [cruciate ligament injury](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/wesley-moraes-injury-aston-villa-17503954) against Burnley, ending his first season at Villa Park.

Ten months on from that injury, the striker is now edging closer to a return to full fitness, with Villa posting a number of images and videos of his efforts in the club gym.

> Twitter: Wesley is working hard at Bodymoor Heath as he continues his recovery! ![💪](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.0.0/svg/1f4aa.svg)![🇧🇷](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.0.0/svg/1f1e7-1f1f7.svg) https://t.co/c8lYQvz5cK (@AVFCOfficial)

Posting a video via the club’s official Twitter account as the international break began last week, former Aston Villa striker Phillips has given his thoughts on the striker’s chances of getting a starting place in Smith’s XI.

Speaking to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/impossible-for-him-to-get-back-in-villa-xi-phillips-reacts-as-twitter-footage-emerges/), the 47-year-old said: *“It is going to be almost impossible for Wesley to get into that team unless Watkins picks up an injury.*

*“Watkins has started the season on fire and I always thought that he would score goals.*

*“The only question was whether they could create enough opportunities and with Grealish staying, McGinn returning to full fitness and Barkley arriving they have a lot of players who can create.*

**“The good thing about Watkins is his positioning. He just plays within the width of the six-yard box. He rarely comes out wide and gets involved in the play, he leaves that up to the others and that is what a natural goalscorer does.*\*

*“He just wants to get in the box and score goals. I have been very impressed with him.*

*“Dean Smith will be delighted to have Wesley back but he will be over the moon with Watkins.”*

### **Read Aston Villa Verdict**

Phillips’ comments are not really a surprise, especially given [Watkins’ form](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ollie-watkins/leistungsdaten/spieler/324358) since arriving from Brentford this summer.

Nonetheless, despite Wesley’s likely struggles to displace the 24-year-old, Villa manger Smith will surely be delighted to have both strikers available to him soon.