Watkins edging closer to elite striker status with flying Villa form

Ollie Watkins is being spoken about alongside some of the Premier League's best players after a superb campaign so far for Aston Villa.

The prolific striker scored a clinical brace in his side's 3-2 win at Luton on Saturday, taking his tally for the Premier League season to 16 goals — just two fewer than Erling Haaland — while he also has a joint-high 10 assists to his name.

He is clearly brimming with confidence, having netted five times in his last three appearances.

Ahead of the first leg of the Villans' Europa Conference League last-16 tie against Ajax tonight, we look at Watkins' exceptional recent form.

Leading the way

Unai Emery's Villa have functioned well as a unit throughout the season.

But Watkins' goals have been the catalyst for a push to finish in the Premier League's top four.

The Villa forward has already surpassed his previous best-ever tally of 15 top-flight goals.

He is now just four away from becoming the first Villan to score 20 top-flight goals in a league season since Peter Withe in 1980-81 when they were crowned First Division champions.

Notably, 13 of his goals have been from open play — the same number as both Haaland and Jarrod Bowen.

Watkins might even be considered unlucky not to have scored more — his post-shot xG of 18.02 suggests his return could have been higher.

Perhaps even more impressively, the 28-year-old also has 10 assists to his name — level with Pascal Gross and Kieran Trippier for the most in the division.

He has regularly linked up with the likes of Leon Bailey and Moussa Diaby this term, proving himself to be far more than just a finisher.

Earning the plaudits

The numbers make for impressive reading — and Watkins is showing no signs of slowing down.

Villa boss Emery said after his display at Kenilworth Road: "He [Watkins] is an example for other players. Every day working hard, every day trying to learn more.

"His mentality, to increase his level, practising and practising on the training ground. His commitment to work in the tactical areas we are planning every match.

"He's scoring, he's getting chances, he's assisting, defending set-pieces. He has been available to play 90 minutes more or less, keeping fit to play a lot. He's fantastic.

"For mentality, it's difficult to find a player better than him. But his skill is also at a high level.

"He wants to learn every day, to increase his level. Of course, his first objective is scoring goals, but then as well, tactically, his work has been fantastic."

European dreams

Watkins will now turn his attention to the Conference League — a competition Villa will be among the favourites to win.

The former Exeter youngster has been used sparingly in Europe so far this term, starting just twice in the group stage.

But he still managed to score in victories over AZ Alkmaar as the Midlands outfit cruised into the last 16.

A rejuvenated Ajax are likely to prove a sterner test — but Watkins will fancy his chances of hurting a defence that has leaked goals in the Eredivisie.

The aim for Villa's talisman will now be to guide his side to European glory and to qualification for next season's Champions League.

If he does that, a place in England's squad for the upcoming European Championship will be an inevitability.