Ollie Watkins injury latest as Unai Emery issues double Aston Villa update pre-West Ham

Unai Emery has issued a promising update regarding Ollie Watkins after the Aston Villa top scorer went off with an injury during the 4-0 thrashing of Ajax in the Europa Conference League.

The England international has just been called up by Gareth Southgate ahead of the friendly fixtures against Brazil and Belgium but there were concerns of a long lay-off as he went down in agony on Thursday night. Challenging Ajax goalkeeper Diant Ramaj, Watkins fell uneasily and held his knee for two or three minutes before carrying on. He was glad he remained as he scored Villa's opener but a substitution was forced a few minutes later.

With 21 goals and 10 assists in 39 appearances across all competitions this campaign, Watkins is without doubt the talisman in B6. With their side in such a precarious position in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur charging, Villa supporters feared the worst when their number 11 limped down the tunnel but Emery has since relieved the anxiety somewhat.

"We don't know exactly. He could be available for Sunday, but it is only a cut. We will wait and see tomorrow and Saturday," Emery said in the post-match press conference. Continuing about Diego Carlos, who was also substituted with an issue, Emery said: "It's something with his hamstring. Maybe he might not be available for Sunday."

Although Emery was optimistic about Watkins, teammate Leon Bailey wasn't so sure. Another of Villa's scorers in the historic win against Ajax, the Jamaican had to help Watkins walk away from the action. "It looked really bad when I saw it. It was an open wound," Bailey said after the match.

Villa will assess both Watkins and Carlos further before Sunday's trip to West Ham United in the Premier League. The latter will be fairly easily replaced by Ezri Konsa, while Watkins missing out would open the door to Jhon Duran. The Colombian replaced Watkins off the bench against Ajax and created all sorts of problems with his pace and physicality in the channels.

Two or three big chances were missed but Duran netted a cracker to make it 3-0, thundering the ball in off the underside of the crossbar. Winter signing Morgan Rogers is another option if Emery decides to roll the dice.