• Ollie Watkins was on the scoresheet as Aston Villa overcame Southampton 
  • Watkins will hope he has done enough to convince Unai Emery to start him 
  • LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Chris Sutton and Ian Ladyman debate the manager of the season awards… who is the best and worst? 

By JAMES SHARPE

Ollie Watkins charged towards the Aston Villa fans, punching his chest and roaring at the top of his lungs, sliding on his knees before his team-mates engulfed him in front of the travelling support.

How Villa needed it after struggling for over an hour to break down a stubborn Southampton side in a vital win in this jam-packed battle for the top five Champions League places but, more than anything, how Watkins needed it.

A niggling knee injury and the arrival of Marcus Rashford has seen Watkins spend most of his time in recent weeks on the bench, most notably for the biggest game in Villa’s modern history, their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain.

It should came as no surprise, then, that Watkins later described his superb finish at St Mary’s, running on to Youri Tieleman’s superb ball over the top to stretch out his leg and poke his volley over the onrushing Aaron Ramsdale and into the net off the underside of the crossbar.

‘The importance of it, it keeps us in the fight for the Champions League,’ said Watkins. ‘The timing of the goal, coming off the bench, not being in the starting line-up. Disappointed to not play. Yeah, when you put all that into consideration, I’m happy to score.

‘I’m not happy to sit on the bench. It’s disappointing every game that I am on the bench but it is the manager’s decision at the end of the day. He asked me if I was ready to come on and just said: “Are you ready to make a difference?” I felt like I did that.’

Ollie Watkins scored after coming off the bench as he helped Aston Villa beat Southampton

Ollie Watkins scored after coming off the bench as he helped Aston Villa beat Southampton

Watkins will hope that he has done enough to convince Unai Emery to start him against PSG

Watkins will hope that he has done enough to convince Unai Emery to start him against PSG

The striker has confidence Villa can progress despite trailing 3-1 from the first leg against PSG

The striker has confidence Villa can progress despite trailing 3-1 from the first leg against PSG

You can say that again. He won a penalty immediately and bagged the opener seven minutes after stepping on the pitch.

Watkins’ goal was his 73rd in the Premier League for Villa and moves him just one behind Gabriel Agbonlahor as the club’s all-time scorer in the competition.

Footballers like to claim they are not aware of such records – not Watkins. ‘Of course I am,’ he said. ‘That is why I wanted to take the penalty as well. To equal it and one more to get the record. Two more to beat it. I am thinking of breaking it. I will do it at some point and looking forward to that day.’

But first the small matter of a Champions League quarter-final second leg and the daunting task of overturning a two-goal deficit against the might of Paris Saint-Germain. Watkins could have done nothing more to earn himself a start on Tuesday night.

‘It’s going to be huge,’ added Watkins. ‘Villa Park. An unbelievable atmosphere. Look, we have got nothing to lose. Playing against a top team in Europe. Leave it all out on the pitch and have faith that we can do it.’

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Fired-up Ollie Watkins stakes claim to start for Aston Villa in crunch PSG Champions League quarter-final second leg after superb goalscoring cameo during 3-0 win at Southampton

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