Ollie Watkins explains why Aston Villa's marathon season could be set for Grand Finale

Saturday’s 1-0 win at Bournemouth, which came courtesy of Watkins’ record-breaking 75th Premier League goal, guaranteed European football for a third straight season.

It also kept Villa’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League very much alive and they will now host Tottenham on Friday night knowing victory will send them into the Premier League’s top-five, putting more pressure on their rivals.

The match will be Villa’s 56th in what has been a long campaign but with the finishing line in sight, Watkins says players are ready to empty the tank in order to achieve their dream.

He said: “We have a few days to recover now. Normally with Champions League it is a quick turnaround and you don’t get that much recovery. 

“Now we are going to have a few days to rest and we can leave everything out there on Friday night.”

Tottenham’s visit, for what is Villa’s final home match of the season, has been brought forward from its original Sunday date in order to give the London club more time to prepare for their Europa League final against Manchester United.

While acknowledging their opponents’ primary focus may be on the latter, Watkins played down the idea it might be an advantage for Villa.

He said: “Most teams in this league are fighting for something. There are no easy games.

“They (Spurs) have a big final they are looking ahead to so I don’t know if their mindset is a little bit different, and they are focussed on that which I’m sure it will be. But like I said, everyone is playing for something.”

Saturday’s win was Villa’s eighth in their last 10 Premier League matches, though they remain outside the top-five for now.

Winning their final two matches, with a trip to Manchester United to come on the final day, would see them surpass last season’s tally of 68 points but could well see them finish lower than the fourth place achieved 12 months ago.

Watkins believes a campaign which has seen them reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League and the quarter-finals of the FA Cup has already been one of progress, no matter what the final fortnight delivers.

He said: “I think if you’d said to any Villa fan at the start of the season you’re going to be getting into the Champions League quarter-final and beating PSG at Villa Park, then a semi-final in the FA Cup at Wembley and then it comes down to the wire last two games of the season to fight for Champions League again - but you’ve definitely qualified for European football? I think any Villa fan would snap your hands off.

“It wasn’t too long ago we went to Bournemouth for the first game of the season and lost and everyone felt like the world was coming to an end. 

“Football changes very quickly and I think it has been an amazing season.”