Revealed: The injury issue keeping Ollie Watkins out of Aston Villa’s starting XI – as Unai Emery insists ‘we are taking care not to risk him’

Unai Emery has revealed Ollie Watkins is carrying a knee injury that means he must be handled with care during the crucial phase of Aston Villa’s season.

The problem ruled Watkins out of England’s recent fixtures against Albania and Latvia and though he featured in Villa’s recent wins over Preston and Brighton, it remains a cause for concern.

In both those games, Watkins was introduced as a second-half substitute with Marcus Rashford given the nod at centre-forward. Rashford scored three goals across those two fixtures and is likely to keep his place up front against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Four days after the Forest game, Villa travel to France to take on Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

Emery said: ‘In the first matches he played this season, he had the same small pain and needed time to recover, but he was playing. Now it is more or less the same.

‘He was working individually in the international break with the physios, to try to recover his best form as soon as possible. Now he is available and feeling better but we are taking care not to risk him.

Watkins has not started for Aston Villa since March 8 against Brentford – four weeks ago

The striker was ruled out of England’s recent World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia 

‘We need to try to get the best from him, firstly when he has this small issue and then secondly when he is feeling strong and comfortable.’

Villa have won six matches in all competitions and have the majority of their players available. They take on Forest three points adrift of fifth place, which is likely to be enough for Champions League qualification next season.