Ollie Watkins admitted he was left 'fuming' after Unai Emery gave him just 20 minutes of game time against PSG in midweek.

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• Watkins 'fuming' after midweek snub
• Desperate to get more minutes
• Responded by scoring against Newcastle

• Table of Contents

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Watkins came off the bench in the second half to replace Rashford, but the Villa striker failed to make a real impact on the game (in his defence, there was very little time to do so). Villa's January reinforcements have affected the amount of minutes Watkins is getting under Emery, and according to The Mail, he's made it clear to the manager that he expects to play more.

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• WHAT WATKINS SAID

  Watkins said: "I played 20 minutes against PSG in both games, so I'm not going to lie – I was fuming I wasn't playing. I let him (Emery) know that. He's the manager at the end of the day. I respect his decision. But I'm not one of the players happy to sit on the bench.
  "It's something I haven't experienced before, missing out on the biggest stage. You always want to play, especially in the Champions League. Me and a few others are disappointed we didn't start the game, but like I said, it's the manager's decision… Rather than let it hinder you, you have to use that anger as motivation."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The England striker certainly showed his value against Newcastle, taking advantage of a start and scoring just 33 seconds into the game to set Villa on course to a huge 4-1 victory that edges them closer to Champions League qualification. With 15 goals in 33 PL appearances this season, Watkins' contribution has been hugely important, even if he's struggling for consistent game time right now.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR VILLA?

  Villa's next Premier League fixture will see them take on current champions Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola's team fresh from an important 2-0 triumph over Everton. City may not have lived up to their usual standards this season, but their manager is determined to push hard for Champions League qualification in the final weeks of the season, and it's likely to be a tough challenge for Villa.

Tags: Futebol
Category: News