Unai Emery responds to Ollie Watkins injury worries as Aston Villa absence explained

Unai Emery gave updates on Ollie Watkins and Jaden Philogene in his pre-match press conference ahead of Aston Villa's clash with Wolves on Saturday (3pm kick-off)

Ollie Watkins is "100 per cent available" to play against Wolves on Saturday, despite having his ankle iced on the substitutes bench on Tuesday night, but Unai Emery has confirmed Jaden Philogene remains sidelined.

The winger missed the win over Leicester at the end of last month, before he returned to action against Everton last weekend. However, after suffering a similar injury in the final stages of the 3-2 victory, Philogene then missed Villa's trip to BSC Young Boys in the Champions League.

Goals from Youri Tielemans and Jacob Ramsey put Villa in a 2-0 lead before half-time at the Wankdorf Stadium, but it could have been more as Watkins saw his goal ruled out by VAR due to a handball. He was then replaced by Jhon Duran in the second half and the Colombia international also had a goal chalked off by VAR for a handball.

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After Watkins came off, he was pictured with ice on his ankle, but Emery pushed back on suggestions that he could be a doubt for the clash against Wolves after full-time.

In an update, Emery said in his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon: "He is available 100 per cent to play. He had problems like other players, but it is not relevant I think. Of course, sometimes he is stopping because we have to protect the players, but he is 100 per cent [available]. He is available tomorrow."

Speaking of Philogene's condition, Emery said: "He had a kick and he was out for two weeks until the match against Everton. Just on the last action when he was dribbling, he got another kick in the same place."

Villa will go in search of their fourth Premier League win of the season on Saturday against Wolves, who are winless at the start of the campaign. Emery's side beat Wolves 2-0 at Villa Park last term after drawing 1-1 at Molineux earlier in the campaign.

Wolves’ tally of one point from four games represents their joint worst start to a Premier League campaign, matching their record in 2003-04, when they eventually ended bottom. They have won one of their past 14 league fixtures and are winless in seven - losing six - since beating Luton 2-1 in April.

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