Ollie Watkins: Striker among four facing Aston Villa axe after ‘surprise’ reveal – Hutton
Alan Hutton has suggested Ollie Watkins could be axed from the Aston Villa starting XI for Saturday’s clash against Watford.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Villa star admitted the 26-year-old has not looked himself in recent games.
As quoted by the Birmingham Mail after Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Newcastle (13 February), Gerrard revealed he was “surprised” by the poor performance and said there need to be “changes in the team”.
Danny Ings, Morgan Sanson, Ashley Young and Leon Bailey were among the most senior players on the Villa bench at St James’ Park.
Hutton suggested there was a case for all four to start against Watford on Saturday.
Asked which of the quartet he thought could come into the starting XI, Hutton told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “I think they all could.
“You look at the likes of Ollie Watkins. He does not seem himself to me. He looks like something’s weighing on him, the way he plays.
“He’s not playing with the freedom we know he can. Is there an opportunity for Danny Ings to come in there and really set the heather alight? Can he show the manager what he’s capable of?
“There’s a call for all those people mentioned. Steven Gerrard at Rangers made one or two changes but the backbone of the team, more or less, was the same.
“I think this is an opportunity, especially against Watford, to maybe change things up. Have a look at these different type of players, the likes of Sanson who’s been kind of unlucky.
“He’s only had little cameo appearances here and there. So he’ll be looking to throw down a marker and get his name in the hat for a starting place in the team.
“Under Steven Gerrard, what I do like is nobody seems to be safe. If you’re not playing well, he will make changes. I think you need to have that big club mentality.”
Watkins has scored five goals in 20 Premier League appearances for Villa this season.
Meanwhile, Ings has netted four times in 17 top-flight games.
In other news, Steven Gerrard tipped to force Aston Villa player out after source reveal.