Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard: Time is key to Ollie Watkins-Danny Ings partnership

Ollie Watkins celebrates a goal

Aston Villa’s Danny Ings (centre) stands dejected after his side concede a third goal during the Premier League match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Saturday October 16, 2021. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER Villa. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire.

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Ollie Watkins celebrates a goal

Watkins, who turned 26 this week, returns to former club Brentford on Sunday as Villa ’ s top scorer in the Premier League, having been among the most consistent performers since Gerrard became mind coach in November. For Ings it is a unlike report. The 29-year-old has not scored since October and struggled for kind and seaworthiness. Gerrard, back at Bodymoor Heath yesterday after completing a time period of isolation following a positive Covid-19 test, revealed Ings ’ efforts to get up to speed had been hampered by a late bust of tonsilitis.

Reading: Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard: Time is key to Ollie Watkins-Danny Ings partnership

The party boss remains convinced he and Watkins, who have struggled to form a partnership up front since Ings ’ £25million arrival from Southampton survive summer, will hit it off given time. Villa ’ s Boxing Day defeat to Chelsea was lone the second gear time they have started together under Gerrard, who said : “ I think Danny is fighting to be 100 per penny and being the best adaptation of himself. “ I ’ megabyte hoping with more game time and more training clock, we can Danny from possibly 80 or 90 per cent to 100. When you ’ ve got those two fit and firing and in the climate to score goals, this cabaret and this team will be stronger. ” Watkins, who joined Villa in a £33m consider in September 2020, has scored three goals in seven matches since Gerrard ’ s arrival. “ Since we ’ ve come in his performances have been actually strong, ” continued Gerrard. “ Whatever caper we ’ ve asked of him, he ’ s done it to the best of his ability. “ He will go back to Brentford and I ’ thousand sure he ’ ll get a dependable welcome, he did a actually good job for them. “ He should just think about continuing his good form, and enjoying his football, and being the best translation of himself. ”

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Gerrard admitted to being raring to go after a week spent “ sat on his rear ” while in isolation. The 41-year-old, who was asymptomatic, was last on the touchline when Villa won 2-0 at Norwich on December 14. villa are probable to be without Ashley Young for their first always trip to the Brentford Community Stadium with the seasoned struggling with a minor toe fracture, though John McGinn is back available after missing the Chelsea defeat following a positive Covid test. Captain Tyrone Mings is decidedly out through suspension, with either Kortney Hause or Axel Tuanzebe set to replace him in central refutation. The latter ’ south future is the subjugate of some doubt. Tuanzebe joined on a season-long lend from Manchester United in the summer aiming to get more crippled time but has played only eight minutes under Gerrard. Villa ’ mho boss yesterday expressed his desire for the 24-year-old to stay for the pillow of the campaign but the final examination decisiveness will rest with the player and United, who are understood to have a recall option. Napoli are thought to have registered an sake in the centre-back. Gerrard said : “ It ’ second very much in Ax ’ s hands and Manchester United ’ second hands. We want him here, we would be delighted to keep him. We don ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate barely see it as a loan until the conclusion of the season.