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Erling Haaland and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins have been in sensational form this season, with both players having scored 11 goals in their past 12 appearances. Watkins has been particularly impressive since the 2022 World Cup, being involved in more Premier League goals than any other player with 15. His performance against Newcastle was particularly noteworthy, with two goals and an assist in a match that England manager Gareth Southgate was watching from the stands. The 27-year-old Villa frontman ran rings around the Magpies’ defence, and Rio Ferdinand commented that he “couldn’t have done much more – he was magnificent”.
Watkins has now reached the milestone of 52 goal involvements in 102 Aston Villa appearances, faster than any other player for the Villains. His form has been so impressive that it would be a surprise if he does not make Southgate’s squad for the Euro 2024 qualifier against Malta in mid-June. The former Brentford man has seven international caps to his name, and scored his second goal for England in a 3-0 victory over Ivory Coast last year. With five goals in his past four top-flight outings, and eight goal involvements in his past six, an eighth England appearance appears to be a formality.
It is clear that Ollie Watkins is enjoying a fantastic run of form, and his performance against Newcastle was a testament to his quality. With Erling Haaland also in excellent form, it is an exciting time for Premier League fans as they watch two of the world’s best strikers battle it out for the Golden Boot.