Hamstring injury leaves Watkins in sweat for Euros
OLLIE WATKINS’ Euro 2024 dream could be over after suffering a hamstring injury against Wolves.
The Aston Villa leading scorer was replaced at the break and will be assessed today.
Watkins, 28, seemingly slipped behind Ivan Toney in the pecking order after a disappointing time on international duty and was desperate to impress for his club to push himself back into Gareth Southgate’s thinking.
Boss Unai Emery was unable to give any indication on the severity of the injury.
He said: “Ollie was feeling something in his hamstring and I think we have to wait for tomorrow. Hopefully it’s not a big injury.
“He felt something. He was saying he could carry on but the doctor told us it was better not to play with risk.”
Villa remain in the top four after goals from Moussa Diaby and Ezri Konsa saw off Wolves.
Emery added: “Overall I am happy because we were very organised and we did well to create our chances to score.
“I don’t want to speak about the possibility of playing Champions League as we can’t feel comfortable being fourth.”
Konsa rounded off a memorable week with a fluke goal to seal Villa’s victory.
The defender had made his first two England appearances during the previous seven days and when his 65th-minute cross hit the post and went in, it summed up his recent good fortune.
That goal added to Diaby’s bullet first-half finish as Villa won a West Midlands derby where they were not at their
Aston Villa ........................ 2 Wolves ............................. 0
Ian Baker Villa Park reports from
best. Wolves remained without a succession of key players with Craig Dawson, Pedro Neto and Hee-chan Hwang among those missing.
As a result manager Gary O’neil gave a full debut to 18-year-old striker Leon Chiwome.
And they should have been ahead on the quarter-hour but Emi Martinez was able to foil Rayan Ait-nouri from point-blank range.
Villa then turned the screw and after Watkins missed a sitter and Pau Torres’ header from Leon Bailey’s cross landed in the hands of Sa, they took a 36th-minute lead.
Diaby thumped home from 18 yards after
Tommy Doyle had failed to clear Alex Moreno’s cross.
After the break, Diego Carlos headed wide from Bailey’s cross but the Villa fans could breathe a huge sigh of relief thanks to Konsa’s moment of good fortune following Diaby’s smart pass.
Wolves never looked like coming back but manager O’neil remained upbeat despite defeat, after missing a host of players. He said: “The only thing I’m disappointed with is the result. Performance-wise it was an unbelievable effort given the players we had.”
ASTON VILLA: Martinez 7; Konsa 7, Carlos 6, Pau Torres 6, Moreno 7 (Digne 63, 6); Bailey 7 (Kesler-hayden 90), Tielemans 7, Luiz 6, Rogers 6 (Zaniolo 63, 7); Diaby 8 (Iroegbunam 88), Watkins 6 (Duran 46, 6).
WOLVES: Sa 6; S Bueno 7, Kilman 6, Toti 6; Semedo 6 (Doherty 84), Gomes 6 (Traore 84), Doyle 5 (Chirewa 71, 6), Ait-nouri 5 (H Bueno 64, 6); Sarabia 6, M Lemina 6, Chiwome 6 (Fraser 84).
MAN OF THE MATCH: MOUSSA DIABY – stunning effort to put Villa ahead and played his hand in the second, too. REF: P Tierney