Ollie Watkins injury: Will he play vs Brentford? What has Unai Emery said?

Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins is working hard to return for this Saturday’s Premier League clash against Brentford at Villa Park but there are no guarantees.

Not present at the 4-1 defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday, Watkins has spent the week recuperating after picking up a hamstring issue against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Villa won that match 2-0 but Watkins didn’t reemerge for the second half, causing plenty of concern.

“He was feeling something in his hamstring. We decided not to play with the risk,” Unai Emery said at the time. Now, a few days on, the England international has undergone further tests to assess his fitness. The latest we heard from Emery was at the Etihad Stadium, confirming some progress.

“Watkins, we will check him and if he’s getting better for Saturday,” Emery admitted in a hopeful tone. “We are as well playing to try and build our team with players who have not been playing a lot. We will need them and so we need to give them chances to play,” Emery also said.

With 16 goals and 10 assists in 30 appearances, Watkins has more direct goal involvements in the Premier League than anyone else this season. He’d undoubtedly be a huge miss if he remains unavailable for the weekend, while games against LOSC Lille and Arsenal await in the next 10 days.

It wouldn’t be cataclysmic, though, as replacement striker Jhon Duran has done a decent job in the number nine role when called upon. The Colombian impressed at City despite defeat, scoring to make it 1-1 in the 19th minute with a composed finish. Emery will want more of the same from the 20-year-old.