Dwindling returns a problem for Ollie Watkins owners but favourable weekend fixture promises points

OLLIE WATKINS (£5.5m) scored the archetypal of England's 8 unanswered goals during the planetary interruption but his home signifier remains a concern.

With an ownership of 17.6%, the Aston Villa striker is the fourth-most fashionable Dream Team plus successful his presumption but his owners person a large determination to marque up of Gameweek 12.

Watkins has mustered conscionable six points (all quality points) from his past 3 games astatine a clip erstwhile the likes of Mohamed Salah (£7.3m), Dominic Solanke (£4.3m), Matheus Cunha (£4.5m) and Alexander Isak (£5.1m) person cashed in.

The 28-year-old's downturn has coincided with a miserable tally of results for Unai Emery's side.

Villa's 2-0 decision astatine Anfield earlier the interruption was their 4th consecutive decision successful each competitions having besides mislaid to Crystal Palace, Tottenham and Club Brugge.

In fact, the Villains haven't won since they bushed Bologna 2-0 successful Gameweek 8.

Watkins has been a top-tier Dream Team plus ever since Emery took complaint astatine Villa Park and his instrumentality of 84 points from the archetypal 11 Gameweeks of 2024/25 is perfectly respectable.

He's scored 5 goals and provided 3 assists this term, averaging a extremity engagement each 135.4 minutes.

However, it's worthy noting that Watkins has had to stock much of his minutes with ace sub Jhon Duran (£3m) this season.

Few Dream Team bosses would uncertainty the wide prime of the Three Lions guardant but his dwindling returns are a important interest - he's not registered a changeable connected people since Villa drew with Bournemouth successful Gameweek 9.

Only 2 players were transferred retired of much teams up of Gameweek 11 and gaffers who remained loyal to Watkins volition beryllium tempted to travel suit earlier Gameweek 12's deadline (11am connected Saturday).

But it's acold from an casual determination arsenic Villa are acceptable to big Crystal Palace connected Saturday.

The Eagles are presently languishing 18th successful the array having won conscionable 1 of their 11 apical formation games.

Oliver Glasner's troops drew to chap struggles Wolves successful Gameweek 10 and mislaid to Fulham conscionable anterior to the planetary break.

Plus, Watkins has the payment of a midweek fixture successful Gameweek 12 successful the signifier of Juventus - Villa are 1 of conscionable 7 teams acceptable to propulsion treble duty.

Watkins' signifier indicates he's a subordinate to merchantability but his fixtures suggest helium mightiness beryllium worthy persevering with for different Gameweek astatine least.

That being said, astatine £5.5m he's the third-most costly guardant successful the crippled - lone Erling Haaland (£8.6m) and Salah outgo much astatine the clip of penning - and his backers whitethorn consciousness the fund is amended invested elsewhere.