Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has said he wants to pair in-form forwards Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran together more often as the third-placed team in the Premier League target a sixth consecutive win when they visit Ipswich Town on Sunday (2pm BST).
Colombia international Duran has scored four goals as a substitute this season, averaging one every 31 minutes and producing Villa’s winners against West Ham, Leicester City and Everton.
England’s Watkins has started all five of their league games, scoring three times in his last two appearances to add to an assist against Leicester.
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) September 27, 2024
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Aston Villa: Duran ‘fantastic’
“It is my challenge to try to get the best of him playing as a striker, playing with Watkins as well,” said Emery, praising Duran’s “fantastic” display in Villa’s Carabao Cup win at Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday, when he was on the pitch throughout and scored a penalty.
“We will play them more together. Every match we play has been a different game plan because [we want to] adapt and try to impose our game plan.”
John McGinn will miss out for Villa at Ipswich because of a hamstring injury the captain suffered during their 3-1 victory at home to Wolves last Saturday.
Centre-back Tyrone Mings and midfielder Boubacar Kamara have returned to training and are on the verge of full recoveries from long-term knee injuries.
Emery said he hopes the pair will play in Under-21 matches next week. “They are training very well,” said the Spaniard, suggesting the duo could be available for the trip to Fulham on October 19.
Unai on a busy week ahead: “At the end of the season, we don’t want to remind ourselves of some moments when we weren’t focused on those points. We are thinking only about Ipswich Town and respecting them a lot. We are not thinking about the next match or the next week.” pic.twitter.com/b13TOYnl2A
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) September 27, 2024
Ipswich vs Aston Villa
Villa have won five and drawn one of their last six Premier League meetings with Ipswich, who are back in the top flight for the first time since 2002.
The Champions League newcomers start the weekend in third, level on points with second-placed Liverpool and one behind Manchester City.
Ipswich secured a third consecutive draw courtesy of captain Sam Morsy’s last-gasp equaliser at Southampton last time out.
Tractor Boys manager Kieran McKenna has said he has an almost on-loan Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips will be assessed but is likely to feature, while forward Nathan Broadhead has returned to training.
