Jermaine Jenas simply blown away by ‘massively improved’ £33m Aston Villa player

Add as preferred source on Google

Jermaine Jenas has now been discussing the progress of one Aston Villa player following an empathic victory against Sheffield United.

Unai Emery’s side seemed to release all of their frustrations from the defeat against Newcastle United in midweek onto Saturday’s opponents.

The 5-0 win against Chris Wilder’s side didn’t even flatter the performance, it was well deserved.

Emery will have surely been delighted with a number of performances in the game, a stark contrast to the Newcastle loss mentioned.

Douglas Luiz was incredibly impressive in the middle, and inspired a much better result than the corresponding 1-1 draw against Sheffiled United at Villa Park.

But of course, the star of the show was Ollie Watkins.

And when reviewing the game on the BBC’s Match of the Day, Jenas thought the Villa striker demonstrated just how much progress he’s made in this fruitful away trip.

Jermaine Jenas so impressed by progress Ollie Watkins has made at Villa

The pundit was staggered by the connection Watkins has now built with midfielder Douglas Luiz, and thought the striker was now showing real intelligence.

Jenas said: “He was different class today and I think, every now and then you strike these partnerships with midfielders and today himself and Douglas Luiz were just telepathic.

“Every time he picks up the ball, Douglas Luiz, he’s just off, Ollie Watkins, he knows exactly what the midfield man wants to do.

“And as you said, there was acres of space, I think there’s some lovely sides to Ollie Watkins’ game, the runs are one thing, but he’s always alive, anything around the box.

“You can see here, [Leon] Bailey cuts in and has a shot, but he’s there following in just in case there’s bits and pieces.

“I also think the intelligence of his runs have massively improved, even since Unai Emery has arrived, he’s really kind of bending his runs, arching his runs – he hits that one onto the post.”

Second to Harry Kane

Of course, there shouldn’t be any doubt that Ollie Watkins is the player to back-up Harry Kane at the coming Euros.

Ivan Toney will have a strong case himself, but as Jenas will protest, Watkins has everything in his game at Villa following the progress he’s made.

Whether it’s stretching sides or building the play, the England international really can do it all.

The £33m Villa paid to sign Watkins does now look something of a bargain, a player now in his prime at 28-years-old. 

That being said, one pundit thought a different player entirely was key to yesterday’s win.