Thomas Frank said that he is pleased to see Ollie Watkins in a rich vein of form ahead of the striker’s return to west London on Saturday.

The England international, who played nearly 150 games for Brentford before signing for Villa in September 2020, netted twice during the Villans’ 3-0 victory over Newcastle United last weekend to make it 11 goals in his last 12 games.

“He is doing fantastic,” Frank began. “When you spend time with people you tend to form a relationship with them, and I am so pleased that Ollie is doing well. He deserves it because he works so hard as a player and as a person.

“He scores a lot of goals and I think he’s got it in him to be a regular scorer in the Premier League.

“I’m very aware that we must do our best to close him down. Also, can we stop the rest of the players providing him with good crosses and balls in behind?”

Frank continued: “I see good movements from Ollie in the box. He always did that before, also for us. I like the way he moves for crosses and I like his movement for balls in behind.

"Now he’s on a run of games when he’s confident in everything he’s doing. Some of the goals that maybe shouldn’t go in are going in. He is in a fantastic place.”

Frank insisted that Watkins’ departure, following Brentford’s loss to Fulham in the 2019/20 Play-Off final, was the correct decision for the club and the player.

“There are 10 clubs in the world, maybe less, that are not selling clubs,” he said.

“We are a club that will sell players if we are offered the right price and when it’s the right step for the player’s development.

“The day that we did not get promoted, the next step was for Ollie to go to the Premier League.

“I would love to work with him, but right now I’m privileged to be working with another fantastic striker [Ivan Toney].

“I would have to re-think how I could get both of them [Watkins and Toney] on the pitch. If I had Ollie Watkins and Ivan, I would have to play them both!”

The Bees boss was asked how Toney and Watkins compare as players and as people. The duo rank among the top scorers in the Premier League this season, Toney having netted 18 goals and Watkins 14.

“They are both fantastic players and characters,” he responded.

“I worked with Ollie for three years and enjoyed it and now I’ve worked with Ivan for almost three years as well.

“They are a little bit different as types, but both of them can play the no.9.

“They are fairly similar; their link-up play is very good and they are both good goalscorers.”