John Duran continues to make waves at Aston Villa, sparking discussions about whether it’s time for manager Unai Emery to reward him with a starting role. In last night’s Champions League match against RB Leipzig, Duran came off the bench at halftime and scored a spectacular goal just minutes later—his trademark style—reigniting debates in England about his place in the squad.
For Aston Villa fans, it’s almost routine by now: the Colombian forward enters the game as a substitute and scores. His stunning long-range strike against Leipzig was his 10th goal of the season and his sixth as a substitute, making him the top “super sub” across Europe’s top five leagues.
Despite limited minutes—just four starts in Villa’s 23 matches this season—Duran expressed frustration during the summer, contemplating a move to a club where he’d have a more prominent role. Emery managed to convince him to stay, but the question remains: how much longer will the 20-year-old striker tolerate playing second fiddle to Ollie Watkins? Even Premier League legend Alan Shearer has weighed in.
“I know he’s young, but he has every right to go and ask the manager why he’s not starting if he’s doing what’s expected of him. Forget the age; if he’s delivering, he must be in the team. His message will be clear: don’t leave me out again,” said Shearer.
Fans Divided, BBC Poll Leans Toward Duran
Villa fans are split, though support for Duran is growing. A BBC poll revealed that 44% of respondents believe Duran should start, 21% support Watkins, while 35% think Emery should find a way to play both together. Emery, for his part, has stated that pairing the two forwards is a challenge he’s working on.
“My next challenge is to pair them together. We’re trying and will keep trying. We need to maintain balance when they play together, but the team comes first,” Emery said ahead of the Leipzig match.
Duran’s performance against Leipzig only added fuel to the fire. Collecting the ball near midfield, he carried it forward and stunned Leipzig goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi with a thunderous strike from over 30 yards out. It was his fourth goal from outside the penalty box this season—no other player in Europe’s top five leagues has more. With three goals in the Champions League, he’s also Villa’s top scorer in the competition, despite playing just 204 minutes.
Duran’s Growing Impact
“Duran can be impatient at times, so we need to keep him balanced. He scored a brilliant goal, he’s working hard, and we’re trying to strengthen the team tactically. His potential is enormous, and tactically he’s improving. He had a fantastic 45 minutes today,” said Emery after the match.
Even Ross Barkley, who scored the match-winner, praised Duran. “That’s the role of players coming off the bench, to make a difference. John Duran made a difference, and I’m happy to score the winner. As you can see, he comes on, causes chaos, and scores goals. We have two top-quality strikers battling for a starting spot,” Barkley said.
Duran’s stats make a strong case for more minutes, especially with Watkins struggling to replicate last season’s form. Watkins has yet to score in the Champions League and has netted seven goals in 15 Premier League matches, but only one from open play in his last 11 games across all competitions. Despite playing nearly twice as many minutes as Duran, Watkins has three fewer goals this season.
Watkins’ Value Beyond Goals
Former Villa player Marc Albrighton weighed in, highlighting Watkins’ contributions beyond scoring. “Duran has led the line well in recent games, but Watkins offers more as a complete forward, which is why Emery prefers him as a starter. When Duran came on, he was more focused and engaged, and he capped it off with a great goal. Why wouldn’t he enjoy this? Everything he touches turns to gold,” said Albrighton.
However, Albrighton emphasized the broader picture. “Villa’s current setup is working well. It’s not like Watkins is out of form. While he might not have as many goals as Duran, he brings so much more to the team. You can’t fault Emery for the way he’s balancing the two.”
Duran’s Perspective
Duran himself seems content—for now. “I like being here and enjoy the competition with Ollie Watkins. When my time comes, I’ll step up and, hopefully, score to help the team. I’m happy with that,” he said.
Still, given his previous frustrations, one has to wonder how long his patience will last. Whether he’s truly content or simply putting on a brave face, one thing is certain: the debate around John Duran and his role at Aston Villa is far from over.