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England international Ollie Watkins was forced off injured in the Champions League in midweek
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Ollie Watkins has been a leading light for Aston Villa since joining from Brentford in 2020, with his form under Unai Emery particularly crucial in their ascent to Champions League football. The England striker rarely misses a game and last season scored in excess of a goal every other game in all competitions - a strike rate he has come close to matching so far in this Premier League campaign. Watkins ranked at no. 10 in Four Four Two's list of the best strikers in the world right now. But Villa fans face an anxious wait to see if Watkins is set to be sidelined after he was forced off at half-time in their 3-2 win away to RB Leipzig in midweek. Emery, who ranked at no. 6 in Four Four Two's list of the best managers in the world right now, described Watkins' issue as a 'small injury' following that Champions League victory. But Watkins was set to be assessed on Wednesday to reveal the true extent of the issue before Villa travel to face fifth-placed Nottingham Forest at the City Ground in Saturday's teatime kick-off. Emery was pleased at the impact Jhon Duran had from the bench - as he so often does - by putting Villa ahead for the second time in the game. Leverkusen subsequently equalised before Ross Barkley's effort won it for Villa five minutes from time. Duran would be the most likely replacement for Watkins if he is unable to play against Forest. The Colombian started and scored in Aston Villa's 1-0 win over Southampton last weekend, with Watkins replacing him from the bench just before the hour. The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week. That was Duran's first league start of the season, and extended his goalscoring run from the starting line-up after he also netted against Bologna in the Champions League and against Wycombe and Crystal Palace in the League Cup. He has also scored four from the bench in the Premier League. In Four Four Two's view, Duran is a more than reliable deputy to Watkins, and that may be a factor in Emery's selection decision if the latter would be at any risk of exacerbating the injury by starting on Saturday. Villa face a particularly tough run of Christmas fixtures, with their trip to Forest followed by hosting Manchester City, a visit to Newcastle, and a home game against Brighton before a midlands derby against Leicester City on January 4. Emery's side look to have come out of a poor run of form, claiming back-to-back league wins to rise back up the sixth in the table. They are level on points with Forest and just two behind fourth-placed City. Steven Chicken has been working as a football writer since 2009, taking in stints with Football365 and the Huddersfield Examiner. Steven still covers Huddersfield Town home and away for his own publication, We Are Terriers. com. Steven is a two-time nominee for Regional Journalist of the Year at the prestigious British Sports Journalism Awards, making the shortlist in 2020 and 2023. Chelsea could make Premier League history this weekend in incredible fashion Who is Gareth Taylor? All you need to know about the Manchester City Women manager Is Arsenal defender Gabriel injured? Premier League injury update Four Four Two is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site. ©
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