Ollie Watkins joined Aston Villa’s 100 Club when he reached his century of appearances on Sunday.
Leading the line against Manchester City brought up the milestone achievement, which has been racked up in less than three seasons.
Since putting pen-to-paper and joining from Brentford in September 2020, Watkins has become the club’s talisman, scoring 34 goals - including one against the reigning champions in his last outing.
In his first interview as a Villan, the forward stated his ambition to do “something special” during his time in B6.
It wasn’t long before he’d achieved that goal, announcing himself to the Premier League with a perfect hat-trick in the 7-2 demolition of reigning champions Liverpool at Villa Park.
The significance of the moment wasn’t lost on Watkins, who had been playing in League Two with Exeter City three years earlier.
“I’ve scored a hat-trick before but it was against Newport away on a boggy pitch with about 2,000 people there,” he said after dismantling the Reds’ defence.
Watkins was immediately on the same wavelength as his new teammates, illustrated once again when he bagged a brace at The Emirates in a 3-0 win against Arsenal.
The Newton Abbot native was showing all the qualities that brought him 25 goals in the Championship the season before.
“On a personal note, it couldn’t have gone much better,” he said in November 2020. “Sometimes I have to pinch myself when I think about how far I’ve come.”
The goals kept coming at the start of 2021, with four goals in five games taking him to double figures in early February. That run caught the eye of England manager Gareth Southgate.
A maiden call-up for his country in March continued Watkins’ upward trajectory, and he made his mark by scoring on his debut in a 5-0 rout of San Marino at Wembley.
After the game, he said: “It’s been a good journey, I just feel honoured that I can come out here and get the chance to put on the shirt and play with the players I’m playing with and even score on my debut. I couldn’t write it and I’m over the moon.”
Four more strikes, including the winner against Tottenham Hotspur, rounded off a fine debut season for Watkins in the top-flight. He finished as the team’s top scorer with 14 league goals plus two in the Carabao Cup.
While Villa had flown out of the traps in his first season, a slow start was made by the team to his second campaign in claret and blue.
However, a stunning solo goal against Brighton at Villa Park, displaying his speed, determination and finishing ability, helped to shake off the malaise as Villa finished 2021 strongly.
Watkins bagged a second international goal in the early months of 2022, finding the net against Ivory Coast on his first start for England.
“I just wanted to enjoy every moment, not put any pressure on myself and go out there and enjoy it,” he said after the game.
“My family and friends are here to watch and what a moment for them to watch me and also for myself.”
Back at Villa, Watkins continued to find the net with regularity, bringing up his 100th club career goal against Norwich City in May.
He again finished the campaign as Villa’s top scorer, scoring 11 times in the Premier League.
Seven more goals during the current season have set the striker on the way to hitting double figures once more.
Watkins’ durability has been key in helping him reach 100 appearances for the club in a short space of time, and he’s only missed five league matches since he signed.
Both Watkins and the Villa fans will be hoping there are many more appearances and goals to come in claret and blue.
Congratulations, Ollie!
