Sport
Duran is now the best back-up striker in the Premier League
Most strikers who score four goals off the bench in just five games would be banging down the manager’s door to start. Jhon Duran, however, is currently proving himself as the best back-up striker in world football for Aston Villa with the Colombian on an incredible hot streak that included a strike in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Wolves.
Duran has played just 131 minutes in the Premier League this season. He is averaging a goal every 32 minutes and this form can be traced back beyond the start of the 2024/25 campaign. Indeed, Duran has found the back of the net nine times in 757 minutes since joining Aston Villa from the Chicago Fire in January.
Unai Emery believes Duran can “become one of the best in the world.” At 20 years old, the Colombian certainly has a bright future ahead of him and his ability has been evident in some of the finishes he has produced over the last few matches. In particular, Duran’s winner against Everton will be remembered as one of the goals of the season.
It’s only because Aston Villa have Ollie Watkins that Duran has been kept on the bench. Watkins, who scored 27 goals last term, is one of the most reliable goalscorers in the Premier League and has proven his worth over a number of seasons at the top level. Emery can’t start Duran because it would mean dropping one of his best players.
With Villa fighting on four fronts this season after qualifying for the Champions League, though, Emery will need squad depth and this is where Duran will continue to prove valuable over the course of the campaign. There will be many more matches for the 20-year-old to make a difference, whether that’s off the bench or from the start.
Emery could start Duran and Watkins in the same team, but that would require a shift in formation across the rest of the team. What’s more, the two matches Duran and Watkins have started together for Villa didn’t go so well – Aston Villa drew 1-1 with West Ham and lost 5-0 to Crystal Palace in those matches.
Against Wolves on Saturday, though, the two forwards showed signs of a relationship as they played an important role in Aston Villa’s comeback from 1-0 down. Duran was involved in Watkins’ equaliser and then found the back of the net himself. It’s possible Emery could give them another opportunity as a front two.
Of course, it was widely reported that Duran was close to leaving Villa Park in the summer transfer window. West Ham were interested in signing the Colombian and Duran seemed keen on making the move to the London Stadium on the basis of his social media activity. In the end, no deal was struck and Villa will be thankful for that considering Duran’s form.
Technically and physically, Duran has everything required to be an elite level centre forward for a long time to come. His finishing ability is up there with the very best. Few players can strike the ball as cleanly as the Colombian who is also mobile and positionally intelligent. For 20 years old, Duran is incredibly mature in a lot of his play.
His all-round game could still improve and this is one area where Watkins has an advantage over Duran. Emery has done a lot to focus Watkins on taking up good scoring positions inside the box, but the England international is still capable of linking up the attacking play. In Duran, though, Aston Villa have someone to mould for the future.
