Ollie Watkins has played every minute of every Premier League game for Aston Villa since joining from Brentford last summer, fortunately staying fit despite Dean Smith never resting him once.
The 25-year-old has scored 10 goals and supplied two assists in 21 league games this season, so Villa have been heavily reliant on his goals. With Wesley Moraes sidelined with long-term injury, Smith only has Keinan Davis for cover but hasn’t trusted the 22-year-old to make the difference in games where Villa were behind.
The club’s former defender Alan Hutton believes the lack of depth in attack is a problem and may cost Villa dearly if Watkins picks up an injury.
He told Football Insider: “It’s probably the one situation where you think well if (Watkins) was to be missing, who’s coming in? Who’s going to live up to his levels? It’s a difficult one, I think that’s the progression, looking at Villa from afar.”
Davis has scored only five goals in 75 games for Villa and has amassed a paltry 48 minutes of Premier League football this season, so it’s somewhat understandable why he has been ignored by his manager.
Wesley’s recovery from a serious knee injury has been slow and Villa didn’t sign another striker when the winter transfer window was open, so they’re really gambling on Watkins staying fit for the entire campaign. So far, the gamble is paying off, but there are still three months remaining.
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Hutton is right to be worried. There isn’t an obvious replacement for Watkins if he becomes unavailable.
Villa don’t have a striker as prolific, nor do they have a player who can hold up the ball, make runs off the last man and provide the same levels of industry in attack, so fans will be hoping that the 25-year-old can last the season without injury or suspension.
