Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has disclosed that striker Ollie Watkins has been playing through a persistent knee issue for over a year, which may necessitate a period of rest for the player.
The Ongoing Knee Problem
Emery explained that the pain in Watkins' knee first emerged at the start of the previous campaign in August. The issue has resurfaced this season, preventing the forward from feeling 100 per cent fit. The club's medical team is carefully managing his condition, with the primary goal being to get him playing completely pain-free and to restore his confidence in front of goal.
"He has a small pain in his knee from last year when we started the season in August," Emery stated. "Now he is feeling the same pain. He is not feeling 100 per cent and we are trying to manage it with him."
Impact on Form and Fitness Management
The physical discomfort has coincided with a noticeable dip in form for the England international. Watkins has found the net just once in 19 appearances across all competitions this term, a stark contrast to his performances in recent seasons that established him as one of the Premier League's most feared attackers.
His fitness is being managed on a day-to-day basis. For instance, he missed a training session on Monday to work indoors with physiotherapists. Emery confirmed that while no surgery is required, rest is a key component of his recovery plan. "He won't have surgery but we are trying to get some rest for him because for this pain he needs rest," the manager added.
Manager's Backing and Future Prospects
Despite his struggles, Watkins retains the full confidence of his manager. Emery acknowledged that a lack of goals might be affecting the player's confidence but praised his unwavering work ethic and importance to the team. The striker, who turns 30 on December 30, was benched for Villa's 1-0 win over Wolves on November 30 but is expected to be available for the midweek clash against Brighton.
"Maybe he is feeling low on confidence because he is not scoring, but he never gives up on his task," Emery said. "He always does positive work for the team, and he is very important for us. The goals are coming, for sure. He has my full confidence."
This revelation comes amid a backdrop of past transfer speculation, with Villa having considered selling Watkins to Arsenal a year ago. With the January transfer window a month away, Emery's strong public backing signals the club's intent to support their striker through this challenging period.
