Whelan slates Steven Gerrard after new Aston Villa development – ‘didn’t have a clue’
Noel Whelan has backed Danny Ings to lead Aston Villa up the table this season after receiving “trust and reassurance” from new boss Unai Emery.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, lamented the “chopping and changing” under former manager Steven Gerrard – insisting he “didn’t have a clue” about his best forward line.
Ings made a second straight start under Emery and scored a brace as Aston Villa recorded a 2-1 victory away at Brighton on Sunday (13 November).
The former Southampton and Liverpool hitman started just five of a possible 11 games under Gerrard this season.
He was dropped from the starting lineup against Crystal Palace in August despite scoring in a win over Everton just a week earlier.
Meanwhile, Ollie Watkins has started 13 games this term – but has scored just twice.
Whelan insisted Ings is “one of the best strikers in the Premier League on his day”.
When asked if the England international could kickstart an Aston Villa revival, he told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “Absolutely.
“We’ve already seen it under Emery, he’s put the trust in Danny Ings.
“We all know he’s a goalscorer and can score all kinds of goals.
“He just needed that trust and reassurance from his manager. He needs a run of games.
“Under Gerrard, there was just too much chopping and changing. He didn’t have a clue about his best forward line.
“Emery has come in and immediately installed Ings as his number nine – and he’s repaying that faith.
“We know he’s got a fantastic record and he’s one of the best strikers in the Premier League on his day.”
In other news, pundit tells Aston Villa to U-turn on A-list signing after source’s January reveal.