Ollie Watkins injury rules striker out of Manchester City vs Aston Villa

Ollie Watkins will miss Aston Villa’s Premier League fixture against Manchester City on Wednesday due to a hamstring injury.

The 28-year-old striker was taken off as a precaution at half time during Villa’s victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday after feeling discomfort in his hamstring. Unai Emery was hopeful he could return for Saturday’s match against Brentford.

Midfielder Jacob Ramsey also continues to miss out with a foot injury sustained against Luton Town in March.

“They will not be available for tomorrow,” Emery said. “They have small injuries. Jacob Ramsey is not getting better like he wants. We are not in a hurry with him. Because tomorrow he will not be available.”

He continued: “With Ollie, it is more or less the same. Ollie’s injury is a small injury, with a few days rest, maybe he could be available for the next match.”

Watkins is Villa’s top scorer with 22 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions, and Wednesday’s fixture will be the first Premier League match he has missed this season.

Ramsey has been restricted to 21 appearances in all competitions this term, having broken his metatarsal in the Under-21 European Championships in July, before suffering a recurrence of the injury in October.

The 22-year-old has not featured since being forced off in the first half against Luton on March 2.

City have injury concerns of their own ahead of Wednesday’s fixture, with Pep Guardiola confirming Nathan Ake, Kyle Walker and Ederson will miss out, while John Stones is in contention to return.

(Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)