In Focus: Watkins ready to reach new heights with Villa

Ollie Watkins enjoyed his best Premier League season to date in 2022-23.

The Aston Villa striker netted 15 times as Unai Emery's side finished seventh in the table and qualified for the Europa Conference League.

Watkins continued to impress for the Villans in pre-season, recording four goals in six friendlies ahead of the top-flight opener against Newcastle today.

As Villa prepare for a campaign which will include European football for the first time since 2010-11, we take a look at how far Watkins can go at both club and international level.

Big ambitions

At 27, Watkins is entering his prime after three years of consistent goalscoring in the English top flight.

The ex-Brentford forward has hit double figures in each of his last three campaigns and the next target will be a 20-goal return. 

If Watkins achieves that, he should add to his seven England caps, having made his Three Lions debut against San Marino in 2021. 

More goals will also mean an inevitable increase in transfer speculation as clubs become more aware of his talent.

Top tier

Emery's appointment as Villa manager last October helped Watkins flourish after a slow start under Steven Gerrard's rule.

He scored 13 goals in 24 games under the Basque boss and just three players — Marcus Rashford, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane — recorded more shots on target than Watkins' 47 in the Premier League last season.

In addition, only Liverpool star Mohamed Salah ranked higher than Watkins for total shots taken (86) following Emery’s arrival.

Extra quality

Villa's ambitions this season will be to improve on their impressive 2022-23 campaign. 

The additions of Youri Tielemans and Moussa Diaby will inject further attacking quality and should result in even better service for Watkins. 

In 33 Bundesliga appearances last season, French winger Diaby tallied eight assists in Bayer Leverkusen colours, as well as nine goals.

And Watkins should also benefit from a full season under Emery's guidance as he bids to become the first Villa player to score 20 goals in a Premier League campaign.

Pre-season goals

This summer's pre-season has only added to the excitement surrounding Watkins. 

He scored Villa's opening goal in a 2-1 win over Valencia last weekend, finishing emphatically into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

After the game, the Three Lions hopeful said: "It's nice to be scoring frequently. I didn't have many opportunities but when it fell to me, I took it.

"Long may that continue and I can take it into the new season."

Newcastle's defenders will already be wary about the prospect of facing Watkins on the opening weekend of the campaign after their pre-season encounter.

The Magpies had the joint-best defensive record in the Premier League last term but drew 3-3 with Villa in the Summer Series. 

Watkins netted after just seven minutes in that game and given his current form, it would be no surprise to see him on the scoresheet again at St James' Park.