OLLIE’S JOLLY KEEN TO FIRE

DEAN SMITH says Ollie Watkins is “itching” to be unleashed at Wolves today after his West Ham heartbreak.

Aston Villa’s eight-goal record £28million frontman had a nightmare at the Hammers last time out.

Watkins hit the bar with a penalty and was then denied a last-gasp equaliser in the 2-1 loss by a controversial VAR offside ruling. He was looking to get back on the goal trail against Newcastle last week only for the game to be postponed due to a Covid-19 outbreak at the North East club.

Villa boss Smith reckons Watkins, who he signed from his old club Brentford in the close season, has the character to handle the setbacks.

But Smith admits Villa’s loss at West Ham still rankles with everyone in their camp, especially Watkins.

“He is itching to get playing again,” said the Villa boss. “Missing a penalty is not nice, I have missed one myself.

“It is always how you bounce back. He bounced back well in the game and scored a good goal but it gets disallowed.

“They used the offside line from the wrong person to start with and then go to another person. I still can’t see whether it is factually offside or not.

“The fact he was getting fouled before and it should shou have been a penalty is probably wwhat grates me most... And the fact the PGMOL still haven’t come out and heldhe their hands up for a mistake.”

Smith Smit knows Watkins well after signing him for the Bees from Exeter in July 22017.

He rreckons if the forward has any doubts after the West Ham loss, he recommends recomm watching a video of Villa’s incredible incredibl 7–2 thrashing of champions Liverpool Liverpoo in October – when Watkins netted a hat-trick.

Smith Sm added: “He was disappointed with w the penalty miss but all he needs to do is go home and watch the Liverpool game again and he certainly won’t feel too bad then.

“He has played 250-300 games now and manages himself well we in terms of the ups and downs of football. He will keep working hard, ha trying to get better. His character ch is one of the reasons we brought br him to Aston Villa.”