Unai Emery has warned Aston Villa fans not to expect a regular strike partnership of Ollie Watkins and Donyell Malen.

Malen started against Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday night and doubled Villa’s lead before the hour mark from the penalty spot after Ezri Konsa was fouled in the box.

Watkins then came off the bench for the final 25 minutes of the game, leading the attack with Malen playing just off him.

It’s a combination that worked to devastating effect a month ago in the home win over Burnley, which Villa won 2–0.

Malen scored both goals that day as he dovetailed effectively with Watkins, exploiting the space created by his strike partner to net his first two goals of the campaign.

Villa have struggled for goals so far this season, only scoring nine in their first 10 league games, and many will view playing Malen alongside Watkins as a solution to their goalscoring woes.

After the Maccabi match, Emery was asked whether the pairing of Watkins and Malen was a tactical plan he intended to...