Aston Villa manager Emery may not have to decide between Watkins and Duran

Unai Emery could be spared the decision between Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran as the England forward carries an injury into tomorrow’s clash with Nottingham Forest.

Watkins has been first-choice in the lone striker role this season, but Duran has scored six goals from the bench – the most of any player in Europe’s big five leagues, including a long-range effort in midweek’s Champions League win at RB Leipzig.

The Colombian came on at half-time in Germany, with Watkins nursing a groin injury that could see him miss the short trip to the City Ground.

Emery said: “I don’t know (whether Watkins will be available) because we’re waiting.

“Yesterday (Thursday) he was recovering, and this afternoon we are going to training. If he trains normally and if he feels good, he will be available tomorrow.”

We’re heading to the East Midlands 🔜 pic.twitter.com/fTBEidULHZ

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 13, 2024

Emery impressed with Watkins

While Duran has grabbed most of the headlines this season, Emery was quick to praise Watkins’ contributions.

The Spaniard added: “Ollie started this season in different circumstances than what he used to do years before because he was with the national team (at Euro 2024).

“His progress has obviously required him to take a step forward in his career and the position is different having played more games and finished later.

“He started a little under the feet and with a little more pain and injuries, but he was more or less available to help the team and did a fantastic job.

“We also had Jhon Duran to help us… and we were also successful. This is the best for us now – two important strikers, one in Jhon who has great potential and the other who has consistency with us.

“Even when he (Watkins) is not playing 100 percent because of some small injury, but when he is available to play, he always does his job and is successful in everything we need him to do in every game. I can’t say anything bad about him. For us, he is our striker with John Duran and is a good example for others.”

Villa must improve their record after the European matches

Villa have won just one of their five league games that have followed Champions League encounters this season, but Emery has had no European commitments to justify their inconsistent domestic form.

“We’re not going to use that as an excuse to ever play a lot of games in Europe because we want to. We have to study and try to gain experience,” he said.

“The experiences we had last year were fantastic, and this year we have very good experiences in Europe and we play matches that are demanding in our own way.

“More or less, we feel comfortable and we try to be in our requirements at the high level that we want. Sometimes there was no consistency, but our ambition is to be consistent with those circumstances in the future.”