Aston Villa: Jhon Duran may be in for a surprise start v Bournemouth
Jhon Duran may be in line for surprise Aston Villa start in Premier League clash v Bournemouth after Ollie Watkins update
Aston Villa forward Jhon Duran may be in line for his first-ever Premier League start after Unai Emery’s injury update on star man Ollie Watkins.
The Spaniard, speaking in his press conference on Friday (1 December) confirmed (via The Athletic journalist John Townley) that Watkins is currently a doubt to face Bournemouth on Sunday (3 December).
Watkins missed the club’s 2-1 win over Legia Warsaw on Thursday night through injury after picking up a small problem in training on Wednesday ahead of their Europa Conference League group stage clash.
Speaking on Friday, Emery said: “He is going to be a doubt for Sunday, but we are adding other players like Zaniolo, Duran and Ramsey getting more minutes. He is not completely unavailable for Sunday, we are going to wait until tomorrow and it depends if we can take a risk with him. Also, what is he feeling for 90 minutes,” said Emery.
“We are going to think about only the match on Sunday. At the moment it is 50/50 for Sunday.”
Watkins has been in scintillating form this season having recorded 14 goal contributions in 13 Premier League appearances so far this season, seven of which have been goals.
He bagged Villa’s crucial winner in their 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur last weekend – his 20th goal in 37 appearances under Emery in the league.
However, after Emery’s update on Friday, it’s not looking good concerning whether the England international would be available come Sunday’s game at the Vitality Stadium which suggests Emery may be looking towards youngster Duran who may be in line for a first-ever Premier League start.
The Columbian international started Thursday’s game against Legia Warsaw and could well have added two goals to his Villa Park resume but for some crucial saves.
However, the 19-year-old did look threatening all evening and certainly ran his socks off, performing responsibilities Watkins usually undertakes in running the channels, linking up play and also pressing from the front and his impact certainly showed.
As per Sofa Score, he won five of his six total duels with a success rate of 83%, provided one key pass, won three fouls and still had two shots on target in an encouraging first start of the season for the wonderkid.
The way Duran performs when given the opportunity, it’s so easy to forget he’s still 19 and a raw talent still needing a lot of refining but that journey could well continue on Sunday, in a league where he’s already brought a few shocks and stirs amongst pundits and journalists.
Sky Sports pundit and Manchester United legend Gary Neville is said to be a fan of the teenager after comments he made on him earlier this year after his brief cameo in a defeat to Manchester City.
“He’s looked lively, Duran,” said Neville in February on Sky Sports. “It’s a hell of a strike, it shocked everyone! The control is really good on his knee, he just sets it up for himself, swivels and hits it… what a strike, Ederson was looking above his head and hoping,” he added.
It won’t be a surprise to see the Colombian perform the same “lively” moment on the south coast should he be rewarded with another start.
