Ollie Watkins ended an 11-game goal drought with a first-half double as high-flying Aston Villa overturned a two-goal deficit to beat Brighton 4-3.

Ollie Watkins has been managing ongoing knee pain for over a year but will not require surgery, said Aston Villa manager Unai Emery. Watkins, who has scored one goal this season in 19 games across all competitions and dating further back, two goals in his previous 24 appearances, has toiled for form and rhythm.

Ollie Watkins scores twice as Aston Villa fight back from two goals down to win at Brighton in the Premier League.

Arsenal’s apparent reluctance to stump up the cash for Watkins now appears to be a sensible decision, with Emery explaining ahead of his side’s clash with Brighton: “He’s keeping a small pain in his knee [from] last year when we started the season in August.

Ollie Watkins has been struggling for form at Aston Villa this season, and fans have started to turn against Emery for continuing to pick the 29-year-old. Donyell Malen’s performance for the Netherlands during the international break meant fans wanted the 26-year-old to start over Watkins at Elland Road.

Watkins has struggled to play his usually prolific part in that run, having scored just one goal all season heading into Wednesday's game, but Unai Emery's decision to stick by him paid off with his double in this game that turned the tide in Villa's favour.

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins has been speaking about how his goal drought had affected him before bagging a brace against Brighton

Ollie Watkins reignited his World Cup push at the Amex – and a surprise team-mate denied Danny Welbeck a reply.