Jhon Duran Shines Again: Should Villa's Top Scorer Start?

Jhon Duran played a pivotal role in Aston Villa’s 3-2 victory over RB Leipzig on Tuesday scoring a stunning 25-yard goal that marked his 10th of the season. Despite his impressive tally, the 20-year-old Colombian has only started four matches across all competitions. Known as a super-sub, Duran has netted six times as a substitute, the most by any player in Europe’s top five leagues this season.

His recent form has intensified calls from fans for him to start more regularly especially as Ollie Watkins, who started against Leipzig has struggled with just one goal from open play in his last 11 matches. Villa manager Unai Emery confirmed Duran replaced Watkins at halftime due to a minor injury and the young striker could be in line for a starting spot against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

However, the question remains: should Duran keep his place when Watkins is fit again? Since joining Villa in January 2023, Duran has started just twice alongside Watkins with Emery favoring one striker over both playing together. Jhon Duran has expressed that he relishes the competition with Watkins, focusing on contributing to the team’s success.

Emery acknowledged Duran’s potential, praising his hard work and impressive performance against Leipzig. However, he emphasized the importance of balance in Duran’s game with the striker continuing to improve tactically. Football pundits like Alan Shearer argue that Duran has earned a starting spot due to his recent form.

Meanwhile, Marc Albrighton points to Watkins’ all-around contribution as the reason for his consistent place in the starting lineup. The battle for the starting spot is likely to intensify as Villa’s season progresses.