Unai Emery hopeful on Ollie Watkins after latest Aston Villa injury scare
Villa striker Ollie Watkins are due to undergo a scan on Friday after suffering a hamstring injury.
The England international was forced off after just half-an-hour of Thursday’s 3-2 Europa League win over RB Salzburg after experiencing discomfort.
Though boss Unai Emery is hopeful the injury is not serious, Villa now face an anxious wait to learn the extent of the problem ahead of Sunday’s Premier League match with Brentford.
Emery said: “He felt something, but not a lot.
“We will test him. Hopefully, we are thinking that is not a lot. I don't know if he will be available for Sunday."
Villa have suffered a rough month on the injury front, with Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Youri Tielemans all facing spells on the sidelines.
Losing Watkins for any period would be another blow, though Emery at least has new signing Tammy Abraham to call upon.
Abraham watched from the stands as Villa came from two goals down to beat Salzburg and secured a second-placed finish in the league phase.
The result means they are guaranteed a home second leg in every knockout round of the competition. Villa will play either Lille, PAOK, Red Star Belgrade or Celta Vigo in the last-16.
Teenager Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba completed the turnaround by firing home an 87th minute winner, after Morgan Rogers and Tyrone Mings had brought the home side back on level terms.
Kadan Young, another academy star, provided the assist for the winner, while 18-year-old George Hemmings played the first half.
“We have a plan with them,” said Emery. “George 45 mins, Jamal 30, Kadan 20.
“We need to protect them when they play to get a plan in their development every day training with us then in official matches.
“Europe is always difficult. Of course I am very happy with the performance but other things we must avoid in forthcoming matches.”
Emery, meanwhile, refused to discuss speculation from Spain linking him with Real Madrid.
Reports have claimed he is Real’s No.1 choice should they want to appoint a new manager in the summer.
Emery said: “I have nothing to say about it.”
