Ollie Watkins
Oliver George „Ollie“ Arthur Watkins
Written by Will Unwin, Simon Burnton and Michael Butler for The Guardian:
Ollie Watkins would surely be the starting No 9 for almost any other country at this year’s Euros, but the Torquay-born forward is unfortunate to be understudy to Harry Kane with England. Reaching double figures for league goals and assists as early as 3 February this season – the first player to achieve this for Aston Villa in the Premier League since Dwight Yorke in 1995-96 –.Unai Emery has transformed the 28-year-old into a complete striker: he is a threat in behind, drops deep to link play, presses high, is an aerial threat and finishes off both feet. Says he owes his success to Dean Smith (who signed him at Brentford from Exeter, and again at Villa), who once gifted Watkins a fish tank to help him take more responsibility. It backfired. “I overfed it, and came back from training with the fish floating on top,” admitted Watkins.
