Troy Deeney reacts to Ollie Watkins’ comment on social media after scoring the winning goal against Arsenal, and shares that an England forward should be worried about Villa’s star player’s current excellent performance.

Troy Deeney has played down any suggestions of a rift between him and Ollie Watkins following the latter’s social media post on Sunday.

Watkins scored a sublime second in Aston Villa’s 2-0 win at Arsenal at the weekend, and notably took to social media to post: ‘Not bad for a winger trying to be a striker,’ followed by a shush-ing emoji and mentioned Deeney in the comment.

It was in reference to the former Watford striker’s words on talkSPORT earlier in the season, when Deeney suggested he would take Ivan Toney to the European Championship over Watkins, claiming the former is a more ‘out-and-out’ No 9.  

While Watkins was evidently aware of the comments and took to Instagram to have his say, Deeney was quick to underline that there was no bad blood between the two, and even suggested the Villa forward ‘did his job’ in ‘giving a bit back to me’. 

‘Life’s miserable – I make a comment about Ollie Watkins and three weeks later he scores a goal against Arsenal and he wants to bring it up, like grow up!’ Deeney told Mail Sport. ‘I never said you weren’t good or that you were bad. I just said you were a winger. I looked at him at Exeter and I looked at him at Brentford and he was a winger. 

‘The original question was who I would take to the Euros, him or Ivan Toney. I said I’d take Ivan because he’s a more out-and-out striker. If you look at Ollie’s history. He plays to the left, he did at Exeter and Brentford and now at Villa. That’s all I was saying. When you break it down like that it makes sense. 

‘I know Ollie and I hope he’ll understand it. He did exactly what he was supposed to, he scored and gave a bit back to me. You did your job! I’m not going to go “Ollie mate don’t message me on Instagram!”.

‘Ollie did everything he was supposed to and there’s not one bit of me that thinks “Oh my god how dare he!” That’s why you respond with humility.’

He added: ‘I should thank him – he’s made me relevant again for another day! It’s such a weird world that we live in.’

It is hard to refute how far Watkins has come under the tutelage of Unai Emery at Villa Park. The forward has 26 goals in all competitions this season, as well as 10 assists in the Premier League and is 10th in the race for the European Golden Boot. 

While Harry Kane is untouchable up top for Gareth Southgate’s side – as he would for any team – the race to be his understudy has heated up with Toney and Watkins both emerging as leading strikers in the Premier League, with Dominic Solanke throwing his hat in the ring too with 17 goals in 2023-24. 

As such, Deeney was quick to underline that the Villa star ‘should be on the plane’ and not just as a back-up to Kane.

‘For me, he should be on the plane and if we’re struggling in any position he gives us more variety. The only reason I would take Ivan over him is I look back to the final of Euro 2020, the quarter-final against France at the World Cup, we weren’t able to change it. 

‘If we brought Ivan on we could go more old school and direct, he gives you more of a physical presence. Of the two, and even he will argue about it, but Ivan’s a better penalty taker. But as a striker and someone who takes penalties, I’d be like “No he’s not!” And I get it!’

Watkins’ versatility could also see him take precedence over one of Southgate’s regular selections Marcus Rashford, who has had a tough season with Manchester United that will surely leave him sweating over his place in the side this summer.

‘I can honestly see a situation where Marcus doesn’t travel,’ Deeney added. ‘Let me be fair, he scored an unbelievable goal against Man City, but when was the last game you saw where you thought Marcus played well? 

‘I think he’ll know, looking over at Ollie who’s got 19 goals going on 20 and 10 assists, playing well, probably going to get Villa into the Champions League he should be looking nervously over his shoulder.’

Deeney was talking to Mail Sport following the announcement of his participation as a wildcard entry in the World Nineball UK Open