Unai Emery can plan now as Ollie Watkins confirms if he’ll be fit for Tottenham vs Aston Villa
Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins was forced off at half-time for England on Thursday.
Watkins collided with the post against Wales and looked to be in considerable pain before making his way down the tunnel at Wembley.
The striker and his Villa teammate Morgan Rogers were both on the scoresheet for England as the B6 club made their presence felt on the international stage.
Watkins and Rogers broke a Villa record from 1931 as the pair from the Villa Park club scored on the same day for the Three Lions.
It was a huge injury concern for Watkins that overtook any positive feeling in B6 as fans await fitness news ahead of their Premier League clash against Tottenham.
Ollie Watkins shares instant injury update from Wembley
Watkins has had a poor start to the season for Villa, but looked to have turned a corner with his goal against Fulham.
The 29-year-old scored his second in four games as he tapped home a Marc Guehi cross to give England a 2-0 lead against the Dragons.
He so nearly bagged a brace, but missed from just yards out before colliding with the post and clutching his knee in agony.
Concerns have arisen about how many games the striker could miss, given that he is Villa’s only recognised senior striker.
Watkins himself appears to have given the claret and blue faithful hope for the upcoming clash against Tottenham in the mixed zone after the win against Wales.
PA Sport journalist Jonathan Veal revealed that the Villa man said “I’ll be ok” as he walked out of Wembley, meaning there is no reason for fans to threat.
This could prove to be the slice of luck that Emery needed after what has been a largely poor record without the number 11.
Aston Villa need Watkins to be fit vs Tottenham
It may have been a frustrating campaign to this point, but there is no doubting the performance level that the ex-Brentford man can reach.
Watkins still managed to register an 86 per cent pass accuracy while taking three shots across his 12 touches before being forced off in the capital.
There is a player there to be unleashed by the Villans, and he certainly makes them better when he starts.
The forward barely misses a game for Villa, and when he does, Villa tend not to win, having won just two Premier League games without him in the squad, just a 33 per cent ratio.
Villa have suffered three defeats and a draw without the Englishman, highlighting his importance.
It will be music to the ears of Emery to hear that Watkins is “ok”, and there will be high hopes that he can remain in the side to face Tottenham next time around.
This will give the Spaniard ample opportunity to prepare for a trip to North London as he looks for a fifth consecutive win.
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