Ollie Watkins with Man United badge in frame
Credit: Imago
Josh Edwards
Sat 20 December 2025 7:10, UK
Ollie Watkins has a glorious chance to return to form at Aston Villa this weekend.
Aston Villa play host to Man United on Sunday, with hopes of ending their dreadful record against the Red Devils.
Villa’s last win against Man United was back in November 2022, when Leon Bailey, Lucas Digne and Jacob Ramsey were on the scoresheet – the latter doing so twice if you include own goals.
Thankfully for Unai Emery, this weekend’s encounter could be the perfect time to end that voodoo, not only for Villa, but also for Watkins.
Ollie Watkins smiling while playing for England
Credit: Imago
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Watkins has struggled this season – there’s no denying that.
But having scored 17 last season and 27 in the season before, his quality is still there; it’s just a case of finding it again.
Sunday will give him the chance to do that, with Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt both ruled out with injury.
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Last time these two sides faced, Watkins struggled massively against Maguire in particular, losing eight of his 10 aerial duels and three of his five on the ground.
That’s according to FotMob, which also recorded the Englishman as having completed just 40 per cent of his 15 attempted passes at Old Trafford.
Maguire’s absence is a big blow for the Red Devils, and it will now be up to Watkins to take advantage of it.
Watkins can achieve a career-first vs Man United
Watkins’ record at Aston Villa is incredible, and that is what has bought him extra credit after a poor campaign so far.
However, within that record is 10 league appearances against Man United, and the 29-year-old has failed to score a single goal.
His only ever goal against the Red Devils for Aston Villa came back in 2022, when he played the full 90 minutes in a 4-2 defeat in the Carabao Cup.
Man United are the only side that Watkins has faced in league competition on 10 or more occasions, and failed to score a goal against them.
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