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.