Phillips would axe ‘fantastic’ Ings over Watkins

Danny Ings hasn’t had the best debut season at Aston Villa, raising uncertainty over his future this summer. The 29-year-old has scored only five goals in 23 Premier League games, just two of which have come in their last 15 outings, so he’s played second fiddle to Ollie Watkins under Steven Gerrard.

Ings has started five of Villa’s last nine league games while Watkins has started nine of their previous 10 and Kevin Phillips admitted that he’d axe Ings over Watkins if forced to choose. He told Football Insider: “It’s a difficult one. I’ve always said how much I like Danny Ings, I think he’s a fantastic striker.

“He’s not had too many opportunities at Villa. You would suggest just by that, him sitting on the bench a bit more than Ollie Watkins, he would probably be the player to move on.” Ings got the season off to a great start with two goals in as many games, but he’s been inconsistent ever since.  

The 29-year-old scored 46 goals with 10 assists in 100 games at Southampton (on loan and permanently) and bagged 13 goals from 33 games in his final season. Ings has left a lot to be desired in a Villa shirt, however, so Gerrard will hope to get more from him next season.

Matt Targett’s rise and speedy fall at Villa Park proves how quickly players can fall out of favour if their form dips, so Ings can’t afford a bad second season.

In other news, David James predicts Steven Gerrard’s departure from Aston Villa for ‘major’ reason