Emile Heskey believes Ollie Watkins would have been a ‘fantastic’ signing for West Brom as the £28 million striker continues to thrive at rivals Aston Villa, speaking exclusively to HITC.
Given all the praise that has come his way over the festive period, it’s hard to believe Watkins is in the midst of an eight-game Premier League goal-drought stretching back to November’s 3-0 thrashing of Arsenal.
Aston Villa’s record signing has hit goalposts and goalkeepers aplenty in recent weeks. He missed a penalty against West Ham too and was also left cursing his luck after seeing two fine strikes ruled out by the harshest of VAR calls.
But there’s quite clearly more to Watkins’ game than putting the ball in the net.
As manager Dean Smith said after the 3-0 Boxing Day thrashing of Crystal Palace, a game Villa won comfortably despite playing the whole of the second-half with ten men, when it comes to leading the line on your own, there is no one better than the former Brentford talisman.
Watkins boasts searing pace and the work-rate to match, leading the press from the front while opening up space for Jack Grealish, John McGinn and co with his selfless, off-the-ball running.
How West Brom, six points from safety and fearing an immediate return to the second-tier, could do with a lean, mean, pressing machine like Watkins.
“He would have been fantastic (for West Brom),” former Villa ace Heskey says of Watkins, who was a target for the Baggies before joining their claret-and-blue clad neighbours from four miles down the road (Sky).
“He’s took me by surprise to be honest because I never knew much about him. To come in like he has and do what he’s done… and it’s not just his goals, he’s just tore (the league) to bits and he’s creating chances for others.
“Everyone just starts to drop because of his pace, then the midfield starts to get a bit more space and that’s when Jack can start creating their chances, and McGinn.”
Like Villa, West Brom paid a sizeable fee to sign another sprightly young forward from the Championship during the off-season.
But while Watkins has been nothing short of a revelation so far, the £15 million Karlan Grant has rarely looked like adding to his meagre tally of one league goal.
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