It’s time for Ollie Watkins to pass the torch, he might be finally finished at Aston Villa
Tammy Abraham has already captured the imagination of the Aston Villa fans after his return.
The Villa Park faithful were delighted to welcome the striker back to the Midlands in January, seven years after his loan stint in B6.
The forward was superb in the Championship, and there is renewed hope that he will be able to recapture that form back in claret and blue this season.
He already has one goal to his name and was unfortunate to have one ruled out in the controversy against Brentford.
With Ollie Watkins continuing to struggle on a weekly basis, it could be time for Abraham to take up the mantle.
Ollie Watkins may be finished at Aston Villa
The England international has been a constant source of goals and assists over the years, and his downfall this season has come as a surprise.
Watkins has only found the net eight times in 36 appearances this campaign, a far cry from the 17 he netted last year.
His worst season in claret and blue came as he contributed to 13 across the same number of appearances, and he is still four off that for the current year.
That doesn’t look likely to change if his recent performances are anything to go by, with Watkins stinking out Villa Park as a starter or as a substitute.
The 30-year-old featured in the starting XI against Brighton and failed to have a single shot on target or create a chance for his teammates.
He also won zero per cent of his attempted ground duels, something which wasn’t bettered off the bench against Newcastle, across his 25-minute cameo.
No shots, chances created or dribbles created sum up his recent issues and show that it may be the beginning of the end for the forward in B6.
Tammy Abraham must become starting number nine now
Abraham may have only just come in from Besiktas, but has already shown better qualities than Watkins in that time.
The ex-Chelsea man can hold the ball up and bring his teammates into the game, while also having the better eye for goal right now.
He netted against Newcastle, created one chance, took two shots and also won five duels, proving his class ahead of Watkins at this stage.
Sofascore highlights the difference between the two right now, with the Villa Park faithful calling for a new regular number nine.
They can’t be blamed, but it still feels unlikely that Villa’s all-time Premier League record goalscorer will be knocked from his perch.
It may be time for him to pass over the torch and realise that he simply hasn’t been good enough this campaign.
He failed to deal with the pressure of Jhon Duran last season, but Villa can’t keep putting up with his poor form this time.
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