Ollie Watkins has turned to Michael Owen for help after admitting this season has been the most difficult of his career.
After heavy speculation about his future during the last two transfer windows, the Aston Villa striker has struggled for form this term and has lost his place in the England squad.
Now, though, Watkins might be finding form at the right time. He has three goals in his last two matches and approaches Villa’s Premier League clash at Nottingham Forest on Sunday with a spring in his step – as he revealed talks with former Liverpool and England forward Owen have been hugely valuable.
‘I speak to Michael Owen quite a bit,’ he said. ‘Someone like him, who has hit levels I’ve not achieved, knows how I’m thinking and can give advice.
‘It’s nice to be in my position and be able to reach out to these people. I sent him a message on Instagram and we had a chat. He feels I’m at my best when I play “angry” and when I’m a nuisance. He wants me to bring that to the table as much as possible.’
Watkins has 13 goals this term even though he has rarely been at his most fluent. Yet even though he has looked sluggish at times, Villa boss Unai Emery has always backed the 30-year-old.
Ollie Watkins (pictured) has turned to Michael Owen for help to keep his World Cup dream alive
Watkins revealed that Owen (pictured) told him he is at his best when he is playing ‘angry’
Watkins repaid that faith on Thursday, scoring twice in a 3-1 win over Bologna that put Villa on the brink of the Europa League semi-finals ahead of next week’s second leg at Villa Park.
‘Throughout my career, this season has been the toughest,’ Watkins told the BBC. ‘I’ve done so well to get to where I am and I hit a new level scoring goals in Europe. You set that expectation.
‘When I scored for England at the Euros (in the semi-final win over the Netherlands at Euro 2024) there were more eyes on me. This year I haven’t been at the level I wanted to and learning to deal with that is hard.
‘Football can always change. You can score three goals in a game and everyone says you’re back in form. But this year has been difficult, not being at the level I want to be, even though I always have faith in my ability. I know I can get back to the level I reached in previous seasons.’
