Ollie Watkins a Doubt
Aston Villa supporters will have to wait a little longer before they get to see the front partnership of Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings, as Watkins knee injury is still a concern.
In the pre-Newcastle press conference Smith confirmed the England forward was a big doubt for both the upcoming home games against Newcastle and Brentford.
“Ollie Watkins, I don’t expect to play. He’s not healed as quick as we would have liked so far,” Smith informed the press.
“I’m hopeful that he’ll be back for Brentford. If not, he’ll definitely be back after the international break.”
Some Villa supporters, who became a tad jaded by Smith’s injury reports last season, especially in the case of Jack Grealish and Ross Barkley, might be excused for joking, which international break does he mean exactly?
“He [Watkins] suffered a knee injury. I don’t know too much about what it was but we were hopeful he’d be ready for tomorrow, but I don’t expect him to play,” added Smith.
There was further bad news for Villa’s frontline, with Bertrand Traore being ruled out until after the international break (just the next one, hopefully!), after his injury against Watford.
“Bertrand Traore suffered a hamstring injury in the game last week, so he’s going to be out until just after the international break,” confirmed Smith.
Apart from that, Villa are fine injury-wise, apart from existing long-term injuries such as Trézéguet’s.
The last week’s training since the season’s opener at Vicarage Road, will not doubt have helped Leon Bailey and Danny Ings settle in, after limited preparation time since joining the club. Also, the extra week would have helped Emi Buendia get up his fitness, after a preseason knock.
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