Ollie Watkins 'goal target' revealed as Aston Villa star works with striker coach

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has set a 'goal target' for himself this season after working with a striker coach earlier this summer.

The 26-year-old scored 11 goals in the Premier League last season, which was three short of the 14 times he found the back of the net during his debut league season at Villa Park during the 2020/21 campaign. That tally just touching double figures was still enough to cement Watkins as the club's top goalscorer, four ahead of summer signing Danny Ings, but the striker is not happy to settle midway through a World Cup year.

While Gareth Southgate called up the Villa forward during the October and March international windows, Watkins scoring against the Ivory Coast during the latter, he was absent for the four Nations League matches that rounded off the season in June. If the striker is to add to his seven England caps this autumn, then a strong start to this season will be required, with the goal against Walsall a good start.

Whether pre-season strikes contribute to his goal target remains to be seen, but striker coach Scott Chickelday revealed that targets have already been set by the player. "(Watkins) has set himself a goal target this season," Chickelday told Sky Sports.

"It is about that repetition, so he is more confident of hitting that target. He just wants to improve."

The coach, who also calls Liverpool starlet Harvey Elliott a client, also revealed what technique, in particular, they work on. "With Ollie, we work on a lace shot. It is all different types of shots. At the level that they are at, we have to make sure the contact is clean and away from the goalkeeper if possible."