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Wicked Watkins

Unai Emery believes that a meeting with Ollie Watkins soon after he was appointed could be behind the striker's scintillating recent form for Aston Villa.

Watkins, 27, has scored eight goals in his last 10 Premier League appearances for the Villans, who have propelled themselves to seventh in the table after a 2-1 win at Leicester last night.

The England international scored the opener at the King Power Stadium before Bertrand Traore grabbed the winner late on.

And Emery has suggested that his sit down with the former Brentford finisher has helped his confidence levels.

He said: "I like to take challenges, always, with my striker, with my coaching. Because I like to be offensive and to be a winner.

"The striker is very important to me. I spoke with [Watkins] at the beginning about the relationship here. I told him that, 'I want the best of you'. This is the way.

"Then, he has a big career to do in his future. It's very important as well to try and speak about other players because he is not going to score if his team-mates aren't helping him to do it.

"For us, Watkins is very important. He's not only scoring but his commitment every day, trying to add more work, watching his clips."

Pukki set for Canaries exit

Teemu Pukki is set to leave Norwich when his contract expires in the summer.

The Finland international has been a significant player for the Canaries since joining in 2018 and has netted 88 times in 204 appearances, helping them gain promotion twice.

Pukki, 33, has scored 10 times in the Championship this season to become the club's fourth-highest goalscorer.

He said: "This has not been an easy decision because of what Norwich means and has done for me.

"I've loved my time with this great club, but considering the stage of my career, and I know I have a few more years in me, I'm keen for another new experience.

"These five years have probably been the best of my career, both from a professional and personal perspective. I don't think anyone believed it would go as well as it has."

Sporting director Stuart Webber added: "Teemu has done so much for Norwich during his five years with us and it is always a sad day when a club legend decides to leave.

"He has been part of some of the greatest moments that we've experienced and will rightly be remembered as a club legend for a long time."

Evans set for surgery

Preston have announced that striker Ched Evans is set to undergo surgery for a medical condition that may have "potentially life-changing consequences".

The issue has come after repeated high-force contact during his career and is set to be sidelined for the foreseeable future.

A club statement read: "Preston can confirm striker Evans will be unavailable for an extended period after developing a serious medical condition.

"The 34-year-old forward is facing potentially life-changing consequences as a result of repeated high-force contact which he has received on a weekly basis throughout his career.

"The condition requires surgery to address his current symptoms and to prevent any further damage from occurring in the future.

"Specific time-frames for a potential return will not be disclosed until the outcome of the surgery is known, but all parties remain hopeful that Ched will be back playing and scoring goals in a PNE shirt in the future."

Sadler taking it slow

Leicester interim boss Adam Sadler is approaching things game-by-game as the Foxes look to beat the drop following their defeat to Aston Villa. 

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was dismissed with 20 minutes to go at the King Power Stadium and Unai Emery's side pounced on the opportunity against 10 men, with Bertrand Traore bagging the winner in the 87th minute.

The loss meant that Leicester remain in the bottom three and are relying on Sadler and Mike Stowell to guide them to safety in the final nine matches.

On his role at the club, Sadler said: "It's Mike and me, it’s a partnership, we have tried to pull the guys together over the last couple of days.

"It has been one of mixed emotions, losing Brendan [Rodgers] was a difficult one, he is a top manager we know, but he is also an excellent man and somebody close to all of us here.

"Until we hear different Mike and I will continue to give everything for the football club, we have been here a long time, we know the people inside out, they know us so if it continues to be us we will give everything for the football club."

Flying Ferguson

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi has hailed Evan Ferguson and believes the Irishman can become a "great player" after the forward scored to help the Seagulls overcome Bournemouth last night.

The Republic of Ireland international's flicked finish put the South Coast side ahead at the Vitality Stadium before Julio Enciso doubled the lead in the dying moments.

De Zerbi has revolutionised Brighton since taking over from Graham Potter earlier in the season and has been full of praise for the breakthrough talent.

He said: "Evan is very young, his best quality is to score and it's a very important quality but I think he has potential to improve in other parts of the pitch, to play with the other players, to play more for the team.

"In my work I have to make results but I have to help my players to improve, to progress. But I think we can achieve our target with Evan.

"I'm proud for him, I think the same for our scouting in our club. He can become a great player."