‘He is increasing his level. Always he wants more and more’: Emery hails heaps of praise for Ollie Watkins.

Aston Villa 3-1 Bournemouth

Ella Smetana reports from Villa Park

Unai Emery has highlighted Watkins’ stand out performance, not just with his efforts to help his side overcome Bournemouth 3-1 this afternoon, but with his 31 goal contributions across the whole season that ultimately is a large reason why Villa sit fourth in the table.

Throughout the last week, the Englishman has played such an important role in getting Villa over the line, scoring the goal that sealed off their win at the Emirates, and getting two assists a week later to help his team secure a much needed three points against the Cherries.

Whilst this afternoon’s victory was a well-rounded team performance, the manager eluded to just how important Watkins is to this current Villa team.

“He played fantastic, his first desire is to win as a team, to help in everything we need tactically and then of course when he is scoring it is fantastic for him and for the team, but even when he is not scoring like today, he played to help the team being brilliant,” Emery said.

“He’s showing that he is very demanding in how he can increase the level. He’s not just important for us but the national team as a player and he’s fantastic. He deserves this because he’s a very hard worker every day – always he wants more and more and he’s always asking how to improve.

“I think he is adding more things tactically for himself to feel comfortable playing as well, scoring goals and giving assists and even without those circumstances, playing for the team.”

Villa go on to face Chelsea next on Friday, and will attempt to further their gap to Spurs to nine points to give them the best possible chance of the top four finish that they so rightly deserve at the moment.