Ollie Watkins insists he is set to deliver this year and thrive on the “responsibility” of being Aston Villa’s sole senior frontman.
Watkins has started six out of seven Premier League games for new boss Unai Emery as Villa have taken an impressive 16 points. He headed the winner last time out at Southampton and is producing his best shooting accuracy stats in his third season in the top-flight.
There is extra responsibility on Watkins now following the sale of Danny Ings, 30, to West Ham for £15million. Villa have brought in £18m Colombian rookie Jhon Duran, 19, but Watkins is the club’s only experienced star upfront where he is assisted by exciting wideman Leon Bailey, 25.
Some fans are worried at the lack of depth and were surprised by Villa’s quiet deadline day. But Watkins, 27, signed from Brentford in 2020 for £28million after smashing 26 goals, is undaunted at the challenge of firing ambitious Villa up the League.
Ahead of Leicester’s visit to 11th-placed Villa on Saturday, Watkins assessed: “When I was at Brentford I was the only striker really for the whole season. I have had that responsibility.
“Here in my first season too we had Keinan Davis who would come on a few times but I was the main striker. I am willing to take that responsibility and am looking forward to it.
“I think it is all about confidence and also remaining calm to believe when you get the opportunities, you are going to put them away.
“I am confident in my ability and in the way the team are playing and the chances we are creating, so I think I can score a lot more goals in this back end of the season.
“When you are a striker your aim is to score goals and it doesn’t change whether there are three or four strikers behind you or you are the only one - the target remains the same."
Watkins notched 14 Premier League goals in his debut season and 11 last term. But he struggled earlier this season under Steven Gerrard as he netted just once and lost his England place to miss out on the World Cup.
Now, though, the frontman is full of confidence after shining since Emery took charge in late October. Emery has opted to use Watkins as the spearhead in a 4-4-2 formation with livewire Bailey playing off him.
The striker reflected: “I feel like Steven Gerrard wanted me to do well and picked me regularly in the team. I had a really good relationship with him. He had a lot of belief in me.
“He wanted me to score goals and I felt I did that at the back end of last season. But the start of this season was a little bit different.
“Now I have definitely learnt under this manager to stay in my position and believe the opportunities will come and be ready to take those opportunities.
“Before I wanted to always try to get involved and touch the ball. That was my natural instinct to be involved in the game at all times.
“Whereas now I am probably content if I am drifting out of the game for 10-15 minutes because I know if I stay in my position up top it is important for the team and I will get an opportunity. I am holding my position more and waiting for my team-mates to find me rather than be impatient.”
Watkins’ positive mind frame has been helped by a happy home life with partner Ellie Alderson and young daughter Amara May, who is “running around causing havoc”.
They have another child due in April and the forward is hopeful he can break back into the England squad to add to his two international goals and seven caps. He said: “Every player that misses out on a tournament is going to be disappointed.
“It was a shame I couldn’t be at the World Cup but you use it as fuel to get back into the squad in the future. I know I am capable of doing that.”
After working his way up to the Premier League from Exeter via Non League Weston-super-Mare , Watkins is certain to throw everything at it. Fresh from his latest gym session, the star admitted: “Getting to the top is hard but staying there is even harder.”
