Unai Emery addresses Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran debate as he makes starting admission

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery wants to find a way to start Jhon Duran with Ollie Watkins

Unai Emery has revealed Jhon Duran is close to starting for Aston Villa after mastering the art of the super-sub. The 20-year-old has started three league games since he joined the club in January 2023, with seven of his eight top-flight goals for Villa coming as a substitute.

After bagging three from off the bench in the club's first four league games, his minutes-per-goal average is the best of any Villa player to score four or more times for the club in the Premier League. Indeed, no player has scored more winners as a substitute in a single Premier League campaign.

Speaking ahead of Villa's clash with Wolves at Villa Park on Saturday (3pm), Emery was asked whether Duran was satisfied with his current role in the squad playing back-up to Watkins, who opened his account last weekend by scoring twice after firing in 19 league last term

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"His process is going up. He arrived here two years ago and the first six months were not easy for him, but progressively he has played more," Emery said of Duran. "He had a difficult injury in pre-season last year and he started playing at the beginning of September or the end of August. Progressively he got better and, of course, to compete with Watkins is difficult but he had moments to play and his impact last year was sometimes like now he is doing.

"His talent is there and he is now playing more and with confidence. He is respecting his teammates. There is still work to do, but the process he is doing. He is close to being in the starting XI and he has to understand as well how he can play with Ollie Watkins, both in the starting XI, but also sometimes alone in different competitions.

"I am very happy with how he has started the season and how he started the first training session we did with him in the summer. He was very focused to stay here. He has the commitment we need from every player. It is good news to watch him playing, adding more minutes as well. Every minute he is playing with us he is helping us."

Emery added: "Every player who is on the bench, the idea is to try and get better on the pitch. As a striker he is clearly helping us by scoring goals and having a very good impact.

"The idea is as well to play in the starting XI. I don’t know if he will tomorrow or on Tuesday or next weekend, but he is close and ready to play. Now, it is to manage his minutes, playing together with Watkins.

"The process he is doing, he is very motivated and excited with us. We have a very good player and his commitment is increasing, getting better. After a difficult summer, he is 100 per cent focusing here and the supporters are happy with him. Everything now is going, and hopefully for a long time, like we want."

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