“If I have Ollie Watkins and Ivan I would have to play them both”: Thomas Frank looks ahead to Watkins reunion
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank has said he would rip up his best laid tactical plans to get Ollie Watkins in his team as the in-form striker prepares to return to west London on Saturday.
Aston Villa man Watkins, who worked under Frank for three seasons at Brentford, has scored 11 goals in his last 12 Premier League games to help Unai Emery’s side climb to sixth in the league table.
Watkins left Brentford for Villa Park in September 2020 after scoring 26 goals and leading the Bees to the Championship play-off final which they lost to Fulham.
Frank, who replaced Watkins with current top-scorer Ivan Toney, re-affirmed his admiration for the Devon-born forward ahead of Saturday’s reunion at the Gtech Community Stadium.
“He is definitely in form, he is doing fantastic,” he said. “Now his on a run where he is very confident in everything he is doing and some of the goals that shouldn’t go in, go in.
“When you spend time with people you tend to get a relationship with them,” added Frank. “I am so pleased that he is performing well. He deserves that. He works very hard as a player and as a person.
“It doesn’t surprise me that he’s scored lots of goals. He’s got that in him to score lots of goals in the Premier League.
“The day when we didn’t get promoted [against Fulham], the next step for Ollie was to go to the Premier League. I think it was impossible to stop.
“I would have loved to work with him more but right now I’m privileged to have another fantastic striker. I would have to re-think how I would get both of them on the pitch.
“If I have Ollie Watkins and Ivan I would have to play them both.”
The two forwards have caught the attention of England head coach Gareth Southgate over the past few seasons, with Watkins earning seven caps and Toney making his debut in last month’s World Cup Qualifier against Ukraine.
“I would have to say that both of them are fantastic characters and fantastic players, and I would play both of them!” joked Frank when asked about the competition between the duo for international honours.
“I think they are a little bit different as types [of player] but both of them can play that number nine [role] which they have shown very well this season in the Premier League.”
Frank, who previously admitted to keeping in touch with Watkins via text message after he had moved on, revealed he had not reached out during Villa’s excellent recent run.
Despite this, the Dane is well aware of the threat posed by Watkins and his team-mates now that they are under the tutelage of Emery.
Villa have won seven of their last eight league games and currently sit just six points shy of the Champions League qualification places.
“It is very impressive what they have done,” said Frank. “I think they look difficult to beat. They have a clear structure in what they want. It is classic Unai Emery in a very positive sense. There is a clear identity and a clear style. I like what I see.
“They are definitely on a European hunt, and they should be with the size they are and their expectations. It is fantastic for them. I expect a very difficult game.”
