Chris Sutton reveals Jhon Duran ‘worry’ at Aston Villa
Chris Sutton says it is a “worry” that Jhon Duran and Ollie Watkins are unable to play with each other at Aston Villa.
Unai Emery has been left with a selection headache this term as both Duran and Watkins have set their standards high with 17 Premier League goals between the duo.
However, after playing both strikers together in the 1-0 Champions League loss against Monaco on Tuesday (21 January), the Villa boss admitted he made a mistake, suggesting it is one or the other.
Writing on BBC Sport (23 January), Sutton urged the Villains to sort it out as he said: “Aston Villa are eighth in the Premier League and ninth in the Champions League, so their season is hardly a disaster – they just look a little bit flat at times.
“Their striker situation is something that Villa boss Unai Emery has got to sort out because he put Jhon Duran on to play with Ollie Watkins in the second half against Monaco, and they are not playing well together.
“I don’t know if that is an ego thing, where both strikers want to be the main man, but they both need to have a think about what benefits the team.
“As a former striker myself, I know how other strikers want to be fed, and how to have an understanding to create situations, but that does not seem to be happening – Watkins and Duran are not connecting or clicking, which is a worry.
“For a partnership to work, you have got to understand your role in the team and how sometimes one of you has got to sacrifice yourself.
“Believe it or not, I was pretty good at realising that, where I was in the pecking order, and how to adapt my game. There are people out there who would say I was unselfish and a team player, and I wouldn’t argue with that.
“I know there is a different view because I listen to my old strike-partner Alan Shearer speaking to Erling Haaland about how you have to be single-minded in front of goal.
“You do, you have to be selfish when it comes to taking chances. But football is a team game and sometimes you have to be prepared to adapt and roll your sleeves up – Shearer always did it – and try to play roles that you don’t necessarily want to play, for the good of the team.
“When Aston Villa’s squad is stretched and a little bit fatigued, Watkins and Duran should be capable enough, and have enough understanding of how to feed each other, because strikers know how to do it.
“Not doing it is a bit of a blot on the copybooks of both players. They are both very talented players, but they need to work this out for the good of the team. Maybe Emery needs to whack some Brazilian music on in training to sort them out?”
Aston Villa need to work out how to get the best out of Jhon Duran and Ollie Watkins
Aston Villa find themselves in a tricky situation as they try to manage the expectations of both strikers and keep their squad happy.
After rejecting a £57million bid from West Ham for the 21-year-old, it’s clear that the West Midlands club are not going to let the striker go easily but if the youngster wants to be the main man and knows the interest is there, it could tempt him away.
Given Watkins is now 29-years-old, while Duran is eight years his junior, Villa will feel as though they have a perfect succession plan in place which bodes well for their future prospects.
Therefore, as Sutton says, those at Villa Park need to do all they can to try and get the two strikers to compliment each other so it doesn’t always have to be a choice of only one of them playing.
We have seen some excellent strike partnerships in the top flight before now and with the quality of both players clear, it could save Emery plenty of headaches.
In other Aston Villa news, Amadou Onana has sent a two-word message as a West Brom deal has been agreed.
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