‘Couldn’t believe what I was watching’: BBC pundit wowed by 24-year-old Aston Villa ace

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Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has been praised by Garth Crooks, who named the Villa Park summer signing in his Premier League Team of the Week.

Last month, the Villans signed the 24-year-old from Brentford for a club record £28million, which could rise to £33million with add-ons.

Watkins was the star of the show in Villa’s 7-2 hammering of Liverpool at the weekend, notching up a perfect hat-trick in the first half.

The former Bees ace was presented with a gift for the opener in the fourth minute before doubling Villa’s lead with a fine run and great finish in the 22nd minute.

Though Mohamed Salah halved the deficit on 33 minutes, John McGinn restored his side’s two-goal lead before Watkins grabbed his third of the day.

Ross Barkley opened his Villa account in the 55th minute and, though Salah got one back for Liverpool on the hour, a Jack Grealish brace wrapped up a superb result for the hosts.

“I couldn’t believe what I was watching,” Crooks wrote on BBC Sport.

“A first-half hat-trick by a former Championship player against the Premier League champions? I thought I was seeing things.

“When you consider there were those who questioned whether Watkins could score at this level this was no ordinary hat-trick.

“The former Brentford striker took his goals brilliantly, especially his second and he really should have had four.

“Regardless, there is a more important point that needs to be made and it is that Watkins looks very comfortable in this league. I know it’s early days but he looks like a player.”

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Watkins, a star for Brentford last season, has hit the ground running for Villa since his move, following up two League Cup goals with the sensational hat-trick over Liverpool.

Dean Smith has made some shrewd signings in the transfer window and now he’s reaping the dividends, with last season’s strugglers now second in the fledgling league table.