Jhon Duran has made a habit of coming off the substitutes bench and scoring for Aston Villa this season.
On Tuesday, the Colombia forward made his first start at Villa Park for 11 months and marked it with his side’s second goal against Bologna in the Champions League.
Duran’s celebrations were cut short when he was immediately replaced by Ollie Watkins, and he showed his displeasure by kicking the back of one of the dugout seats in frustration.
Unai Emery is not too upset with Duran’s reaction, however.
Duran now has seven goals in all competitions while Watkins has five – two forwards delivering goals as Villa enjoy one of their best starts to a season for years.
“Duran got a goal again and he’s on fire,” former England defender Matt Upson told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“Villa have great competition for that centre-forward role, with him and Watkins capable of scoring goals.”
Duran is ‘really funny’
Rewind three weeks and Duran was the goal hero against Bayern Munich, coming off the bench to score the only goal of the game on a special night under the Villa Park floodlights.
His only previous start this season came in the Carbao Cup win over League One Wycombe Wanderers.
Against Bologna, Duran had five of his team’s 16 attempts – including two on target, with his second beating Lukasz Skorupski from close range after an assist from the impressive Morgan Rogers.
“Duran has everything – he has technique, he can hold the ball and can flick on. He is an all-round striker,” Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans told TNT Sports.
On Duran’s reaction to being substituted, Tielemans added: “He is really funny. The manager does not care. He knows everyone wants to play. It is part of the game.”
Villa have scored five goals in the Champions League this season with Duran, signed in an £18m deal from Chicago Fire in January 2023, netting two of them.
‘Under my control’
Victory over Bologna came as Emery prepares to celebrate his second anniversary in charge of Villa.
Under the Spaniard, Villa have gone from Premier League strugglers to enjoying their best start to a Premier League season for 26 years.
Duran is clearly a big part of the club’s future plans, with Emery brushing off the player’s reaction when he came off, saying he had “no problem” with it.
Asked if he had any issues with Duran’s reaction, Emery said: “No. I am managing everything and the reaction of players.
“We are sending a message in the dressing room: respect our values and try and be mature and be responsible. It’s not only Jhon Duran, some other players react.
“But it’s under my control.”
Watkins or Duran – who will start next?
Who will start up front when Villa next play in the Champions League away to Club Brugge on 6 November?
“He played very well and he scored a good goal,” added Emery about Duran’s performance.
“It was fantastic the way he accelerated.
“We will play both strikers sometimes and when they play individually as well as today – with Watkins – it is best for the team.”
Upson believes Duran has a great future at Villa.
“He didn’t really get much of a sniff today but he showed that he is a goalscorer, a poacher, someone that is ready whenever the opportunity comes.”
