Analysis: Watkins showing class is permanent

Ollie Watkins was being written off by some earlier in the season.

The striker was left out of Thomas Tuchel's last England squad in November, having previously been forced to withdraw from the October squad with injury.

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His form in the first half of the season had seen, justifiable, questions asked over whether he would make the plane for the summer's World Cup.

One goal in his first 19 games was not good enough from someone who has always hit double figures since joining from Brentford in 2020.

But with six goals in his last eight games, including one against Nottingham Forest on his 250th Villa appearance, the 30-year-old is fighting back.

His link up with Morgan Rogers was also evident again, Rogers teeing Watkins up for his first-half opener, with the pair combining for 10 Premier League goals since the start of last season, two more than any other duo.

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With Evann Guessand on duty with Ivory Coast for the Africa Cup of Nations and the goals slowly drying up for Donyell Malen, Villa needed Watkins to find his form again.

It has returned in style, with doubles against Brighton and Chelsea helping to shoot Villa up to their lofty position in the table.