Aston Villa v Brighton: Jhon Duran ban presents opportunity for fellow striker star

Jhon Duran’s three-match ban presents an opportunity for Watkins to kickstart his season after the Colombia international had edged ahead of him in the pecking order.

Watkins had started all but one match when fit since Unai Emery’s arrival prior to this month, when he found himself on the bench for four consecutive Premier League matches.

Duran’s absence means he will be back in the starting XI and on paper Monday night’s visitors Brighton would appear the ideal opponents for both the England international and Villa.

The Seagulls have lost their last three visits to Villa Park with Watkins scoring in each, last season producing one of the finest performances of his career and netting a hat-trick in a 6-1 hammering, a result which also remains the biggest win of Emery’s tenure.

Another victory tonight would make it four on the spin at home for Villa and much as they have struggled away, losing five straight, they have begun to find a rhythm at home. 

The win over Manchester City last time out was their strongest all-round display of the season to date. Brighton’s visit is the first of three consecutive matches at home, with Leicester due to visit on Saturday ahead of next week’s FA Cup third round tie against West Ham.

“Now Villa Park,” said Emery in the aftermath of the 3-0 Boxing Day defeat at Newcastle. “Villa Park is where we have to feel strong with our supporters as well and comfortable, keep being consistent there.

“We have to try and build the team, getting better and correcting how we are not being consistent away.

“At home we have to keep being consistent like the last matches at home.”

Both Villa and Brighton entered the weekend in a pack of six teams separated by just three points in the top half of the table, in what is shaping up to be a tight race for European football over the second half of the campaign.

“The table is very tight,” reflected Emery. “There are a lot of teams within a few points. It makes it a more interesting league and more difficult of course.

“We have to be positive but positive in trying to learn and correct everything we are more or less doing.”

Getting Watkins firing again would clearly help Villa’s cause. With seven goals in 14 Premier League starts, the striker could hardly be said to be having a bad season. He has been a little unfortunate too, with a minor injury sustained in the Champions League win at RB Leipzig offering Duran the chance to grasp his chance to start.

But it is also true this term Watkins has struggled to match the admittedly brilliant consistency of the last, scoring just twice in his last 14 appearances in all competitions. This next fortnight, with Duran on the sidelines, offers the 28-year-old the chance to serve a reminder of his own considerable talent.