Troy Deeney has performed down any options of a rift between him and Ollie Watkins following the latter’s social media submit on Sunday.
Watkins scored a chic second in Aston Villa’s 2-0 win at Arsenal on the weekend, and notably took to social media to submit: ‘Not dangerous for a winger attempting to be a striker,’ adopted by a shush-ing emoji and talked about Deeney within the remark.
It was in reference to the previous Watford striker’s phrases on talkSPORT earlier within the season, when Deeney advised he would take Ivan Toney to the European Championship over Watkins, claiming the previous is a extra ‘out-and-out’ No 9.
‘With Ollie, that is going to sound detrimental however I promise you it isn’t, he’s a winger attempting to be a striker,’ he mentioned to talkSPORT
Whereas Watkins was evidently conscious of the feedback and took to Instagram to have his say, Deeney was fast to underline that there was no dangerous blood between the 2, and even advised the Villa ahead ‘did his job’ in ‘giving a bit again to me’.
Troy Deeney instructed talkSPORT that he felt Ollie Watkins was a winger ‘attempting to be a striker’ three weeks in the past earlier than the Aston Villa star responded
Former Premier League striker Deeney is getting into the UK Open Pool Championship
Deeney insisted that the Aston Villa star ‘did his job’ in responding on-line to his feedback
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‘Life’s depressing – I make a remark about Ollie Watkins and three weeks later he scores a objective in opposition to Arsenal and he needs to deliver it up, like develop up!’ Deeney instructed Mail Sport. ‘I by no means mentioned you were not good or that you simply had been dangerous. I simply mentioned you had been a winger. I checked out him at Exeter and I checked out him at Brentford and he was a winger.
‘The unique query was who I might take to the Euros, him or Ivan Toney. I mentioned I might take Ivan as a result of he is a extra out-and-out striker. When you take a look at Ollie’s historical past. He performs to the left, he did at Exeter and Brentford and now at Villa. That is all I used to be saying. If you break it down like that it is smart.
‘I do know Ollie and I hope he’ll perceive it. He did precisely what he was alleged to, he scored and gave a bit again to me. You probably did your job! I am not going to go “Ollie mate do not message me on Instagram!”.
‘Ollie did the whole lot he was alleged to and there is not one little bit of me that thinks “Oh my god how dare he!” That is why you reply with humility.’
He added: ‘I ought to thank him – he is made me related once more for one more day! It is such a bizarre world that we dwell in.’
It’s laborious to refute how far Watkins has come below the tutelage of Unai Emery at Villa Park. The ahead has 26 targets in all competitions this season, in addition to 10 assists within the Premier League and is tenth within the race for the European Golden Boot.
Whereas Harry Kane is untouchable up prime for Gareth Southgate’s aspect – as he would for any workforce – the race to be his understudy has heated up with Toney and Watkins each rising as main strikers within the Premier League, with Dominic Solanke throwing his hat within the ring too with 17 targets in 2023-24.
As such, Deeney was fast to underline that the Villa star ‘needs to be on the aircraft’ and never simply as a back-up to Kane.
‘For me, he needs to be on the aircraft and if we’re struggling in any place he provides us extra selection. The one motive I might take Ivan over him is I look again to the ultimate of Euro 2020, the quarter-final in opposition to France on the World Cup, we weren’t capable of change it.
‘If we introduced Ivan on we might go extra old fashioned and direct, he provides you extra of a bodily presence. Of the 2, and even he’ll argue about it, however Ivan’s a greater penalty taker. However as a striker and somebody who takes penalties, I might be like “No he isn’t!” And I get it!’
Deeney performed almost 400 video games for Watford and scored 47 Premier League targets
Watkins is having an excellent season with Villa and is within the race for the Premier League golden Boot
Deeney additionally claimed Watkins’ spectacular type ought to see Marcus Rashford wanting over his shoulder ‘nervously’
Watkins’ versatility might additionally see him take priority over one among Southgate’s common picks Marcus Rashford, who has had a troublesome season with Manchester United that may absolutely depart him sweating over his place within the aspect this summer season.
‘I can truthfully see a state of affairs the place Marcus would not journey,’ Deeney added. ‘Let me be honest, he scored an unbelievable objective in opposition to Man Metropolis, however when was the final sport you noticed the place you thought Marcus performed effectively?
‘I feel he’ll know, wanting over at Ollie who’s acquired 19 targets happening 20 and 10 assists, enjoying effectively, most likely going to get Villa into the Champions League he needs to be wanting nervously over his shoulder.’
Deeney was speaking to Mail Sport following the announcement of his participation as a wildcard entry within the World Nineball UK Open
