Ollie Watkins makes his point to Brentford supporters with celebration as Aston Villa striker nets late winner on return to former club

Ollie Watkins was especially keen to make a point to someone in the home section on his return to Brentford.

After scoring the late winner for Aston Villa, Watkins shoved his hand through the net and jabbed his finger forcefully in the direction of the supporters behind the goal.

Clearly he was unhappy by something said to him during the game and appeared to be explaining as much to Thomas Frank during an animated exchange with the Brentford manager at full-time.

Watkins answered in the best way by scoring though was left in no doubt what his former faithful thought of him during the remainder of an increasingly ill-tempered game, an X-rated chant and jeers accompanying his every touch.

Watkins, once a hero in these parts is now clearly a villain in Brentford eyes.

But, amid all the animosity, he was also a timely reminder that there is life after losing a talismanic striker.

In the summer of 2020 Watkins left the Bees after a brilliant 26 goal season to join Aston Villa for £28m.

His replacement that same summer was a certain Ivan Toney, then a player with just a Premier League games to his name, most of his career played out in leagues One and Two and arriving for around half of the package Brentford had agreed with Villa.

The rest is pretty much history.

A then Championship record 31 goals were scored by Toney and Brentford reached the Premier League via the Championship play-offs, succeeding where they had failed at the end of the previous season.

The goals have continued to flow for Toney at the very highest level too and he has developed into a full England international during his time at Brentford.

Toney, watching on against Villa from a seat in the stands behind the Brentford bench, is now in the final few weeks of his eight month ban due to breaching betting rules which ends on January 16.

And, despite his lengthy absence, his future has rarely been far from the top of the Brentford agenda.

Brentford are a well-run club with smart people in all departments not least recruitment.

Their selection of Watkins’ replacement is just one such example and their squad is full of shrewd signings.

Watkins found himself up against one of them in underrated centre-back Ethan Pinnock.

Keane Lewis-Potter, their scorer with a smartly-taken first Premier League goal and who they have turned to following a long-term injury to Bryan Mbeumo, they will hope is another.

When the time comes to replace Toney they will be ready.

It is not impossible that point arrives in January. Brentford are relatively relaxed about the situation and will deal with anything concrete when it arises and money is put on the table in front of them.

A summer departure would be more preferable for Brentford and sources have told Mail Sport that eventuality is being loosely worked towards.

Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United are among those credited with interest. Intriguingly, personnel at each of his individual London admirers seem to think Toney is headed elsewhere rather than to them.

Time will tell how Toney’s future pans out. Either way, Brentford have been here before, which should provide some comfort.

Though they will hope that if and when Toney does move on he does not come back to haunt them in quite the same way that Watkins did.