Konsa eager for Villa team-mate Watkins to sign new deal

Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa would like to see team-mate Ollie Watkins sign a new contract.

Watkins has been in fine form for Unai Emery's side, netting a hat-trick in the 6-1 victory over Brighton last Saturday.

The English striker signed a five-year deal when he joined the Villans from Brentford in 2020 but now Konsa has urged his colleague to agree new terms.

Speaking ahead of Thursday night's Europa Conference League clash with Zrinjski Mostar, Konsa said: "For the club, it's really important.

"He scores us goals and wins us games. To have him extend his contract would be really important for us.

"I've known him for quite some time. We played together at Brentford, so I knew how good he was and when we signed him three years ago I was delighted. Hopefully he can continue this form."

Boss Emery added: "His commitment with the club is really great.

"He is always ready to learn, he's still humble to work hard and to get better always. When he's not scoring he's always working well.

"He's closer to go with the national team because he started the season very good."

Despite sitting fifth in the Premier League table after thrashing the Seagulls, Villa suffered a setback when they lost their first Europa Conference League group stage game at Legia Warsaw last month.

And Konsa knows not to underestimate the minnows from Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday night.

The 25-year-old added: "We're looking forward to it very much, it's our first game at home in a European competition for some time now.

"We know how much it means to the fans and for us as players. For some of us it was our first experience in Poland playing European football.

"I'd never heard of the team we're playing tomorrow, that's no disrespect to them though.

"We know we're in for a tough game. European football will always be difficult.

"Villa Park is home and when you play at home you know you have 40,000 people behind you, they push us every game."