Emiliano Martinez believes Jhon Duran can become “one of the best strikers in the world” after the 20-year-old scored the winner in Aston Villa’s 3-2 victory against Everton on Saturday evening.
In the 76th minute, Duran scored his third goal of the season with a thunderous strike from outside of the box, completing Villa’s comeback, having trailed two-nil.
Ollie Watkins halved the deficit before the break and scored his and Villa’s second near the hour mark.
Seven of Duran’s eight Premier League goals have come as a substitute, with all three goals this season being winning goals. No player has scored more winners as a substitute in a single Premier League campaign.
“I have seen it from behind and I saw the ball moving – it was unstoppable,” said Martinez, speaking to Premier League Productions (PLP).
“It was a great strike, we have been trying to help Duran in the Premier League and if he can keep the consistency he can be a really big threat. He can be one of the best strikers in the world, but he needs to keep his feet on the ground and to work hard. He has one of the top strikers (Ollie Watkins) in England playing in front of him.”
“I think the first strike of the game went through the legs and they went 1-0 up. The second with the free-kick they go 2-0 up. But, it shows how far we have come as a club and we got three points.”
“It takes a moment of magic like that and Jhon has come up with it,” added Watkins. “Everyone knows what he can do, and when he’s got the opportunity he shows it. It’s one of the best [goals] we’ve seen.”
Villa travel to Switzerland to play Young Boys on Tuesday in their first Champions League fixture.
(DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)
