Everton 0-0 Aston Villa ANALYSIS: The out-of-form star who needs 'protecting' after another drab display from the visitors - and how Unai Emery is missing Marcus Rashford

At least three times in the last two transfer windows, Ollie Watkins probably imagined himself somewhere else.

Last January, the England forward thought he was moving to Arsenal, the club he supported as a boy, only for Villa to sell Jhon Duran instead, to Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr.

Then during the summer, Watkins was on Arsenal’s list again, but third behind Benjamin Sesko and Victor Gyokeres, with Gyokeres the man they signed. He also interested Manchester United – until they opted for Sesko.

After another listless display from Watkins, it feels no coincidence that Villa are without a goal in their opening four matches – for the first time in Premier League history. 

Sooner or later, they need their all-time leading Premier League goalscorer to come to the party.

Beto puts Watkins to shame

Everton forward Beto is unlikely to have dashed home to watch back his performance here. He missed a simple chance in the third minute and wasted several opportunities thereafter with heavy touches and rushed finishing.

Yet Beto never gave the Villa centre-backs, Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa, a moment’s peace. He won all five of his aerial duels and that gave Everton a platform from which their wide players, Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish, were able to play. Beto was far from perfect but you could see why he was there.

Where was that sort of display from Watkins? Though the 29 -year-old’s strengths are different from Beto’s, at his best he can cause just as much trouble for defenders. Instead, Watkins touched the ball 16 times during his 83 minutes on the pitch, winning only two of his nine duels. He did not have a single shot and ran at his defender only once, losing possession.

Where is the back-up?

Watkins could be excused his slow start to last season. He had most of the summer off after playing for England at Euro 2024, where he scored a memorable goal to knock out the Netherlands in the semi-final.

Luckily for Villa, Duran was able to pick up the slack when Watkins was still finding his rhythm. The Colombian had scored three times by this stage of the 2024-25 campaign and that allowed Watkins to ease his way into the campaign. 

When Duran left, Marcus Rashford joined on loan and scored four times in 17 matches – hardly prolific, but he gave defenders the jitters every time he played. How Villa could do with him now because they do not have alternatives to Watkins anymore. 

He had a full pre-season and looked sharp but that edge has deserted him over the opening four matches. Watkins has taken only eight shots this season, with two on target. That is not all his fault. Three times he made good runs today but Morgan Rogers could not find the pass. 

At his best, though, Watkins creates chances for himself and sets the tempo for his team, as anyone who saw his brilliant display in the 4-1 win over Newcastle last spring would attest. Right now, though, he is a ghostly presence.

Emery remains reluctant to turn to Donyell Malen, which begs the question: why did Villa pay £19million for him last winter? Daily Mail Sport understands Villa were even prepared to trade the Dutchman this summer if it had enabled them to land certain targets. Malen looks lively when he comes on and may start at Brentford in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.

Watkins needs protection

Asked about Watkins’ performance, Emery’s choice of words felt significant. ‘We have to protect him,’ he said, twice. ‘I am not worried – for him especially. We will score again, and he is going to score.’

Watkins is his own harshest critic. After that Newcastle game, he would have berated himself for not finding the net more than once. Even as a proven top-level goalscorer, Watkins seems to lack confidence in himself. Those who have worked with him have noticed he can go into his shell when he has to compete for his spot – as was the case with Duran and, at times, even Rashford, who Emery preferred as a No9 towards the end of last term.

The question now is whether Villa and Watkins can rekindle things. Last December, Watkins found himself on the bench as Emery went for Duran. Then he believed he was joining Arsenal in January, and was benched – again – for the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain.

Watkins needs to find a way to put all these knocks behind him. The success of Villa’s season may depend on it.