Emile Heskey makes shock claim involving Ollie Watkins and Erling Haaland

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A surprising comparison has been drawn between Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.

Former Premier League and England striker Emile Heskey believes Watkins might be a better player than Haaland due to his overall involvement in Villa’s success.

Heskey, who himself registered 110 goals and 53 assists in 516 English top-tier appearances, reckons Watkins and Haaland are the current top two centre-forwards in the Premier League. Heskey has been particularly impressed by Villa, though, as the Birmingham club have been the surprise package over the past two seasons.

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Watkins has been instrumental to the Villans’ success as the former Brentford man has scored 74 goals and made 29 assists in 178 games for the club. Last season’s top scorer and already underway this term with four goals and seven Premier League games, he’s showing no sign of slowing down.

“I think they’ve got the best striker in the league after Erling Haaland in Ollie Watkins,” Heskey told 10bet.

“There’s an argument to be made that Watkins could be on par or even better than Haaland at this moment in time because of his all-round game and what he gives Aston Villa on top of the goals that he scores.

Emile Heskey believes Ollie Watkins might be on par or even better than Erling Haaland.Emile Heskey believes Ollie Watkins might be on par or even better than Erling Haaland.
Emile Heskey believes Ollie Watkins might be on par or even better than Erling Haaland. | Getty Images

“At Man City, Haaland doesn’t really need to get that involved with the play, whereas Watkins has to be involved all the time at Villa. We’ve also seen the real Unai Emery. We’ve seen the results of the meticulous work that goes on behind-the-scenes in terms of structure and how they play,” Heskey continued.

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Strong praise, then, from a man who made 62 appearances for England and once donned the colours of Leicester City, Liverpool, Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic, Bolton Wanderers. Heskey did of course also play for Villa, too, and he’s been keeping a close eye on the club ever since.

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