Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has unveiled the underlying cause of Ollie Watkins' recent dip in form, attributing it to persistent knee pain that dates back over a year. This ongoing issue has prompted the club to carefully manage Watkins’ training load in a bid to restore his performance levels.
The striker, who dazzled with 19 Premier League goals in the 2022/23 season followed by 16 in the previous campaign, has struggled this season, scoring just once in 19 matches and only four in his last 33 appearances overall. His fitness took a hit after missing pre-season due to recovery from Euro 2024, where he represented England.
With Watkins not fully fit, Jhon Durán stepped up, netting four goals early in the league and contributing in Aston Villa’s Champions League fixtures, easing the scoring burden. Despite a promising pre-season where Watkins found the net five times, knee pain has clearly disrupted his consistency, even as he started 11 of the club’s first 13 league games this term.
READ MORE: Santa’s Grottos Around Birmingham for Christmas 2025 – Featuring Magical Train and Boat Adventures
READ MORE: Jaguar Land Rover Design Chief Dismissed Following Controversial Rebrand
Emery explained, “He’s been carrying a small pain in his knee since last August when we began the season. He feels about the same discomfort now as he did then.”
The manager continued, “We needed Jhon Durán as a second striker, which helped the team with goals. Watkins is still feeling that same pain. He’s not at 100 percent, so we’re managing his condition carefully, aiming for him to get pain-free, regain confidence, and start scoring again.”
With the arrival of Donyell Malen, who has impressed by scoring goals and fulfilling the tactical demands, Villa have viable alternatives while Watkins works through his recovery.
“When it comes to surgery, that’s not on the table,” Emery clarified. “Yesterday, Ollie didn’t train but rested with the physios. He will be available for tomorrow’s match. We’re focusing on giving him rest periods to help him heal. He can play progressively and we hope he can soon perform pain-free, concentrating fully on his football.”
Aston Villa remain optimistic that with rest and careful management, Watkins will return to his best and continue to be a key goal threat for the club.