Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has publicly reiterated his "complete confidence" in striker Ollie Watkins, backing the forward to rediscover his scoring touch imminently.
Watkins' Struggle for Goals
The England international has found the net only once in 19 appearances across all competitions so far this campaign. That solitary strike was a crucial equaliser in the 2-1 Premier League victory over Fulham, which secured Villa's first league win at the sixth attempt.
Despite Watkins' lean spell in front of goal, the team's form has been formidable. Since a 1-1 draw with 10-man Sunderland in late September, Villa have won 11 of their last 13 games. In the Premier League, they have taken an impressive 21 points from a possible 24 during this run.
Emery's Unwavering Support
Watkins was named on the bench for Sunday's match against Wolverhampton Wanderers, with summer signing Donyell Malen preferred to start. When questioned if this indicated a change in the pecking order, Emery was quick to dismiss the notion and defend his number nine.
"They are two very good players. They are both playing," Emery stated. "Ollie Watkins has my complete confidence. He is always doing his task. Maybe he is feeling under his confidence because he is not scoring, but he never gives up."
The Spanish coach emphasised Watkins' overall contribution, adding: "He always does positive work for the team, and he is very important for us. The goals are coming, for sure. For sure."
Competition and Confidence
While throwing his full support behind Watkins, Emery also praised the impact of Malen, acknowledging the healthy competition within the squad. "I am happy how Malen is getting his challenge and adding to us the work we need tactically and playing minutes," he said. "He is going to score because he scored normally. His commitment is very important."
Emery's comments suggest he views the situation as having two high-quality options rather than a starter and a backup. The challenge for Watkins now is to translate his manager's steadfast belief into goals on the pitch, as Villa aim to maintain their excellent run of form.
