Michael Dawson has admitted that he was initially ‘quite surprised’ when Aston Villa decided to sell Danny Ings to West Ham United during the January transfer window.
But the former Premier League centre-back has added that it’s proven to be the correct call because, in Danny Ings’ absence, his former partner in crime, Ollie Watkins, has ‘benefited’ and is now the ‘main man’ under Unai Emery, who is doing wonders in B6, including having Villa two points outside the top-six.
Aston Villa did bring in 19-year-old Jhon Duran from the MLS when West Ham paid £12 million for Danny Ings’ services (90MIN), but it still left the Midlands outfit with one senior striker.
Fast forward to the present and Watkins is now scoring goals for fun, including during Villa’s 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge, where he became the first player during the club’s Premier League era to score five on the bounce away from home.
In total, the England hopeful has ten Premier League goals this term, including seven since Ings left.
Well, whilst Michael Dawson first questioned the above transfer, he is now changing his mind, as he told Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports (01/04/23 at 1:40 pm).
“I think selling Danny Ings was something I was quite surprised by as well,” said Dawson. “I think that has probably had a big impact on Ollie Watkins.
“He is playing every single week. You know you are going to play. As players you know, if you don’t score, then someone else is coming in the next week. They have a formation that they are sticking with.
“You have got Bailey, Ramsey, Buendia, we are even seeing more out of Buendia. Big price-tag. He was getting criticised under Steven Gerrard.
“I think Ollie Watkins had benefited from that decision. He knows that he is the main man.”
WATKINS ON FIRE
There aren’t many forwards who are performing as well as Watkins right now and the 27-year-old was pretty unlucky not to be included in Gareth Southgate’s England squad last week.
But all the former Brentford man can do is continue to put the ball into the back of the net.
If he does that, then Villa have an outside chance this season of getting into Europe, if not, they will achieve it next season.
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