Aston Villa boss Unai Emery speaks on Ollie Watkins 'risk' as Marcus Rashford nears milestone

Watkins did not go away with England last month after experiencing pain during the second leg of Villa’s last-16 Champions League win over Club Brugge.

The 29-year-old has only been used as a substitute in the first two matches following the international break and Emery confirmed he is keeping an eye on the striker’s workload to ensure he is in the best possible shape for the run-in.

Watkins has scored 14 goals in all competitions this season but struggled to find the consistency which saw him hit 29 last term.

Emery explained: “He started the season after playing with the national team and his holidays in August. The first matches he played he had a small pain and he needed time to recover, but he was playing.

“Now it is more or less the same. He stopped because he was feeling some pain and in the break he worked individually with the physio. He was working to recover as soon as possible to get back into form.

“Now he is available and feeling better. We are as well taking care, not taking risks of him to get the best of him.”

Emery has been able to ease Watkins back into the action thanks to the form of loan star Marcus Rashford.

The 27-year-old, who will make the 500th appearance of his career for club and country in Saturday’s Premier League match with Nottingham Forest, has scored three goals in two matches since being moved to centre-forward. Emery now views him as genuine competition for Watkins.

He said: “I am happy for him (Rashford) because he is achieving an individual objective. We are trying to enjoy with him and no more. We want him to feel comfortable every day here, with everything we are doing and with his teammates.

“Then, training, playing and with the challenge we have together to try and achieve and to play in his best form and qualities, skills and confidence.”