‘100%’ – Unai Emery gives Ollie Watkins fitness update ahead of Aston Villa clash with Wolves

Aston Villa are preparing for their highly anticipated derby against Wolverhampton Wanderers, and the latest news regarding star striker Ollie Watkins comes as a huge relief to Villa fans. The England international sparked concern after being substituted in Villa’s 3-0 win over Young Boys in the second leg of their Champions League tie earlier this week. Watkins was seen with ice on his Achilles tendon on the bench, sparking fears of a potential injury.

However, Villa boss Unai Emery has allayed those concerns ahead of the Wolves clash, confirming his star striker is fully fit and ready for action.

Ollie Watkins has been a key figure for Aston Villa in recent seasons. The 28-year-old finished as the club’s top scorer for four consecutive campaigns, netting 27 goals in 53 appearances last term in all competitions. Although his start to the current campaign has been a bit inconsistent, Watkins managed to rediscover his form last weekend with a brace in Villa’s dramatic 3-2 win over Everton.

Despite concerns over his fitness, Unai Emery made it clear in his pre-match press conference that Watkins was fully available for the Wolves game.

“He is 100% available to play,” Emery confirmed. “He had some problems, like other players, but not major. He is now 100% available tomorrow to play.”

This statement from Emery will surely allay any lingering doubts among Villa fans, especially given the club’s busy schedule, which includes domestic and European games in quick succession.

With Aston Villa competing on multiple fronts this season, the fitness of key players like Watkins becomes even more crucial. Villa’s schedule is packed, with Premier League games interspersed with their much-anticipated European campaign. Watkins, who has always been Villa’s go-to man in attack, remains at the heart of their ambitions this season.

The goals against Everton last weekend showed glimpses of the Watkins Villa fans are familiar with, and with Unai Emery’s tactics starting to bear fruit, his role will only become more important. The Spaniard has clearly built his attacking plans around Watkins’ ability to lead the line, making his recovery from any knock absolutely vital.

While the focus remains on Ollie Watkins, Unai Emery also provided an update on other key Villa players returning from long-term injuries. French midfielder Boubacar Kamara and defender Tyrone Mings are both stepping up their rehabilitation. Kamara, who suffered an ACL injury against Manchester United in February, and Mings, who has been sidelined with his own ACL injury since the start of last season, are back in training.

“Kamara and Mings are now training every day with the team, they started this week. That’s very good news,” Emery said, suggesting their return to competition may not be so far away.

The return of Kamara and Mings will significantly boost Aston Villa’s squad depth, especially as the club faces a busy period with high expectations in the Premier League and Europe.

Another interesting point to note ahead of the Wolves game is the form of Colombian striker Jhon Duran. Since joining in the summer, Duran has impressed with his performances as a substitute, even scoring in a dramatic win over Everton. His exploits have led to more and more calls for him to start alongside Ollie Watkins.

Emery acknowledged Duran’s contributions but stressed the need for patience: “He’s close to playing in the starting XI and he also has to understand in his process how he can manage to play with Ollie Watkins. But of course I’m very happy with the way he’s started this season.”

With Duran knocking on the door for a starting role, Villa’s attacking options are looking increasingly formidable. Whether the Colombian will partner Watkins up front remains to be seen, but the competition for places is a positive sign for a team that has ambitions to compete on multiple fronts.

Aston Villa head into their derby against Wolves in high spirits, buoyed by the news that Ollie Watkins is fit and available. With a demanding schedule ahead, Unai Emery’s squad will need to show depth and resilience in the coming weeks. With Watkins rediscovering his goal-scoring skills and the likes of Kamara and Mings getting closer to full fitness, Villa fans have every reason to be optimistic about their side’s prospects this season.