Ollie Watkins has every right to feel miffed… he’s a better striker than Marcus Rashford, writes CHRIS SUTTON

It has surprised me to see Ollie Watkins fall down the pecking order, even understanding the threat Marcus Rashford carries.

Watkins is a better all-round centre forward who has more strings to his bow than Rashford does.

But it’s the way Unai Emery sees Rashford as the right fit, that pace in behind type striker, that means he is selecting him.

Rashford is not as good with his back to goal as Watkins is, he’s absolutely not, but it is who Emery believes will be the biggest threat, whether it’s Paris Saint-Germain or Manchester City.

What he has seen is that Rashford is causing more problems and is a better fit for the way that he wants to play in the big games. Watkins isn’t going to like that, why would he like it?

We all understand about rotation – players weren’t rotated as much back in my day – and there has been an acceptance in the modern game that players will be rotated.

But the fact that Watkins has been left out of the biggest games is different. I am pretty sure based on his reaction and the other night being on the bench versus Manchester City that he will not be a happy bunny at this moment in time.

An interesting summer awaits because how does Emery spin this? Everyone understands competition for places but if Watkins feels he’s the better striker, the better all-round striker which is how I would feel if I was him, I’m not sure how Emery balances it.

Watkins has missed 24 ‘big chances’ this season, the most of any player in the Premier League and maybe that is an element where Emery does not feel he is being clinical enough in front of goal.

But that would be my worry now. Emery has an unhappy player on his hands based on the fact he isn’t getting regular football. He is Villa’s all-time Premier League goalscorer and there are so many different elements to this, add in that it is uncertain whether Rashford will even sign for them this summer.

He’s clearly pretty peeved off that he’s been replaced as the main man at Villa. The loyalty he’s given, the service he’s given them, the quality he’s given them, and now we are all viewing him and the way Emery sees it is that he is not first choice anymore, he’s second choice in those big games.

I quite liked Watkins’ reaction to being left out. He didn’t attack Emery but he made his feelings known. That’s how you want players to react, that was an early response from him to say that he’s angry and he’s motivated.

But the longer this goes on with him being second choice I bet you a pound and a penny that his motivation to do well may still be there but he will be thinking about his future.

If he is not made to feel that he is going to be the main No 9 I bet he’s thinking about moving elsewhere and going to a club where he will feel really wanted.

I think Watkins is a better all-round footballer with his back to goal, the way he links up, he’s intelligent and I don’t think Rashford works any harder than Watkins does, that’s why it’s a head scratcher to me.

Watkins could have maybe accepted it better had the game-time in the big games been more equal – but it hasn’t been equal. He’s being used as a back-up and that’s the only way he will view it. 

He was the main guy and now he will feel he’s being pushed out.

You just know as players. Everybody has their opinion and it’s subjective, we all have our views on players and their ability.

But players who are half clued up know exactly whether they should be playing or not and that’s clearly how Watkins feels.

I think he’s been harshly treated Watkins and I like Emery. Rashford has shown a far better attitude and application since he’s gone to Villa but if I was in Watkins’ position I’d feel the exact same.