I think there will be a worry if I said I'm happy to just sit on the bench and don't want to play - Ollie

OLLIE Watkins says there would have been "a bit of backlash" if he was happy to sit on the bench as the frustrated Villa striker looks to return to the starting line-up in tomorrow's FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace.

- By SIMON PEACH

The 29-year-old made headlines after his man-of-the-match display in last weekend's 4-1 win against fellow top-five contenders Newcastle by admitting he was "fuming" at his bit-part Champions League role against Paris Saint-Germain.

Manager Unai Emery was delighted by the way Watkins channelled that anger with a goal and assist against the Magpies, yet the England international was back behind Marcus Rashford on Tuesday as Villa suffered a late 2-1 defeat at Manchester City.

Watkins was brought off the bench in the 76th minute at the Etihad Stadium and is now hoping to get the nod when they head to Wembley to face Palace.

"I was just saying, from my point of view, every player wants to play," he said, when quizzed about his post-Newcastle remarks. "And that's it, really."