Ollie Watkins took his game to serious heights last season under Unai Emery and for Aston Villa.

Many Aston Villa fans watching him in action weren’t surprised because for several years he had produced strong performances and just needed better players around him.

Emery’s transformation of Villa certainly helped that and it resulted in Watkins scoring 19 Premier League goals and supplying the most assists in the league at 13.

Rightfully so, the complete forward was getting plaudits left, right and centre for his performances.

Watkins earned a place in England’s Euro 2024 squad and that’s when he scored a goal that will be remembered for a lifetime because that semi-final winner against the Netherlands was epic.

All of this resulted in the 28-year-old getting a lot of individual recognition, inducing being named Villa’s Player of the Season.

Declan Rice also lauded Watkins as he was named in the PFA Team of the Year, but that’s where it stopped.

It needs to be remembered that Villa returned to the Champions League after decades in the wilderness, with their striker playing the most important role.

It was beyond significant, but what the likes of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard did for Arsenal, including Cole Palmer for Chelsea seems to have got more recognition.

2024 Ballon d’Or nominees

The likes of Palmer were named as nominees for the 2024 Ballon d’Or. It was a 30-man list, with the obvious names in there, such as Kylian Mbappe, Rodri, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr.

But you have to question, if someone like Palmer gets picked, then how in god’s green earth is Watkins left out?

Emiliano Martinez was up for the Yashin Trophy again and he was recognised, but Watkins played a bigger role than him.

It’s not like Saka or Foden won trophy after trophy last season, in fact they were empty-handed, just like the Villa man.

This is pure disrespect towards Watkins and going by the certain players selected, if they get in there, then so should he.

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