Villa provide update on fitness of Ollie Watkins

By Ben Browning

Published: August 11, 2021 5:31 pm

Last Updated: August 11, 2021 5:49 pm

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Watkins a popular FPL choice

With the new Premier League season just two days away now, FPL bosses across the world are finalising their sides for the opening weekend. Ollie Watkins was a firm favourite in plenty of people’s teams last campaign and, priced at 7.5m in this years game, could well prove a shrewd acquisition once more.

Aston Villa’s pre-season goalscorers:
3️⃣ Ollie Watkins
2️⃣ Jaden Philogene-Bidace
1️⃣ @AaronRamseyx
1️⃣ @EzriKonsa
1️⃣ @IngsDanny
1️⃣ @ElGhazi1995
1️⃣ @Youngy18
⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽ pic.twitter.com/zaLVhaGpwB
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) August 11, 2021

Despite the loss of Jack Grealish to Manchester City, Villa have strengthened well this summer, adding Emi Buendia, Danny Ings and Leon Bailey to their side in Grealish’s stead. The arrival of Ings cast aspersions on Watkins’ role in Dean Smith’s side, with some thinking he could be shifted out to the wing to accommodate the former Southampton striker.

However, speaking just days ahead of the new campaign, Smith clarified both the latest on Watkins’ fitness and also how he will be used this season, both of which will come as a relief to FPL bosses.

Smith speaks out

Speaking to Sky Sports, Smith, when asked on Ollie Watkins potentially playing on the left-wing, replied:

“Watkins hasn’t played wide for a couple of years. I didn’t bring him in to play there. He scored 26 goals for Brentford playing as a centre-forward in the Championship and came to us and got 16 goals also as a centre-forward – so no, I don’t envisage him out there.”

Moreover, as reported by the Birmingham Mail, Smith “expects” that Watkins will be able to shake off the knee injury that forced him off the pitch in the Villians pre-season friendly against Serie A side Salernitana.

With Watkins fit for the start of the season, and nailed on to be playing most of his football in the familiar striker role, will he be going into your team?

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Watford vs Aston Villa Result/Both teams score	Yes	No
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Draw	10/3	9/1

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