---
title: "Dean Smith insists that Keinan Davis remains ‘valuable’ to Aston Villa"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2021/01/27/keinan-davis-valuable-dean-smith-praise/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2021-01-27T14:30:00Z"
modified: "2021-01-27T14:30:00Z"
---

# Dean Smith insists that Keinan Davis remains ‘valuable’ to Aston Villa

[Keinan Davis](https://readastonvilla.com/2021/01/06/villa-stall-on-keinan-davis-transfer-decision/) may seem to have an uncertain future at Aston Villa as he has been short of form and playing time this season, but Dean Smith has insisted that the 22-year-old remains a “valuable” presence at the club.

The striker has made only [seven appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/keinan-davis/leistungsdaten/spieler/412660) from a possible 21 this term and has scored just one goal. By contrast, Ollie Watkins has [seven league goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ollie-watkins/leistungsdaten/spieler/324358) and has started in every league outing thus far, resulting in Davis amassing just [47 minutes of Premier League football](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/keinan-davis/leistungsdaten/spieler/412660) in 2020/21.

Despite the 22-year-old receiving scant game-time, Smith still rates his presence in the squad highly, telling [Birmingham Live](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/dean-smith-clarifies-futures-two-19708046): “(Davis is a) valuable member of my squad.

“At the moment, Keinan Davis is our first centre forward substitute for Ollie Watkins. (He’s a) valuable squad member who wants pitch-time obviously but will have to be patient.”

### READ ASTON VILLA VERDICT

Davis hasn’t scored a Premier League goal in [22 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/keinan-davis/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/412660/plus/0?saison=&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=GB1&pos=&trainer_id=) since Villa were promoted from the Championship in 2019, so it’s hardly a surprise that he’s behind Watkins in the pecking order.

Wesley Moraes might oust Davis from the side completely when he [makes a full recovery from injury](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/villa-injury-news-newcastle-targett-18896713), so his long-term future will be in jeopardy. Until that happens, though, the 22-year-old will remain Villa’s [only senior backup at centre-forward](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/kadernachposition/verein/405).

Although Smith insists that Davis is useful, [Watkins](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ollie-watkins/leistungsdaten/spieler/324358) has played every minute of every league game, so the manager doesn’t seem to fully trust the backup option. Indeed, Villa were [considering loaning Davis out](https://theathletic.com/2302973/) this month if they could bring in a replacement, so his days at the club might be numbered despite the manager’s remarks.