Paul Merson: Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins will be on high after England goal
Paul Merson has backed Ollie Watkins to be on a high with Aston Villa after he scored for England in the latest international break.
The striker tapped home in the big win over Ivory Coast, with Tyrone Mings also on the scoresheet on a week that will have delighted Steven Gerrard back at Villa Park.
Merson even backed his former side to pick up a massive three points in the Premier League showdown with Wolves later today at Molineux [02 April].
Writing in his Sportskeeda column on their website, Merson singled out the striker as the one player to watch after his exploits for the Three Lions.
“Aston Villa have turned a corner – the result against Arsenal was a wake-up call for them,” he wrote.
“Ollie Watkins will be on a bit of a high after scoring for England, so I think Villa could win this one.”
Form.
Watkins has struggled for consistency this season, it is very clear.
The former Brentford man will have wanted more goals and assists to his name by this stage of the season, with Danny Ings also in the same category.
That isn’t to say that he hasn’t performed, though, with his constant running and pressing a real asset to the side in the final third on and off the ball.
Merson will know better than most what the international break can do for a player, and it looks as though this goal, no matter how simple it was, could do the world of good.
Gerrard will be hoping the same, and with a huge game against Wolves coming up later today [02 April], we hope that the bounce comes straight into play.
Bring it on.
In other Aston Villa news, Douglas Luiz could be sold in the summer and Kalvin Phillips is mooted as a potential replacement