---
title: "Phillips would axe ‘fantastic’ Ings over Watkins"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2022/03/24/kevin-phillips-would-axe-fantastic-danny-ings-over-ollie-watkins/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2022-03-24T23:06:45Z"
modified: "2022-03-24T23:13:29Z"
---

# Phillips would axe ‘fantastic’ Ings over Watkins

Danny Ings hasn’t had the best debut season at Aston Villa, raising uncertainty over his future this summer. The 29-year-old has scored only five goals in [23 Premier League](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/danny-ings/leistungsdaten/spieler/134294) games, just two of which have come in their last 15 outings, so he’s played second fiddle to Ollie Watkins under Steven Gerrard.

Ings has [started](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/danny-ings/leistungsdaten/spieler/134294/saison/2021/plus/1) five of Villa’s last nine league games while Watkins has [started](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ollie-watkins/leistungsdaten/spieler/324358/saison/2021/plus/1) nine of their previous 10 and Kevin Phillips admitted that he’d axe Ings over Watkins if forced to choose. He told [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/aston-villa-transfer-news-luis-suarez-claim-issued-after-sources-update-phillips/): “It’s a difficult one. I’ve always said how much I like Danny Ings, I think he’s a fantastic striker.

“He’s not had too many opportunities at Villa. You would suggest just by that, him sitting on the bench a bit more than Ollie Watkins, he would probably be the player to move on.” Ings got the season off to a great start with two goals in as many games, but he’s been inconsistent ever since.

The 29-year-old scored 46 goals with 10 assists in [100 games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/danny-ings/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/134294) at Southampton (on loan and permanently) and bagged 13 goals from 33 games in his final season. Ings has left a lot to be desired in a Villa shirt, however, so Gerrard will hope to get more from him next season.

[Matt Targett’s rise and speedy fall at Villa Park](https://readastonvilla.com/2022/03/17/kevin-phillips-says-matt-targett-was-treated-unfairly-by-steven-gerrard/) proves how quickly players can fall out of favour if their form dips, so Ings can’t afford a bad second season.

***[In other news, David James predicts Steven Gerrard’s departure from Aston Villa for ‘major’ reason](https://readastonvilla.com/2022/03/23/david-james-predicts-steven-gerrards-departure-from-aston-villa-for-major-reason/)***