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‘On the outside’: Steven Gerrard feels he judges Aston Villa star differently
Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard admits he judges Danny Ings differently to ‘people on the outside’ and is happy with the striker, via the .
Ings will face his former side Southampton on Saturday when Villa host Ralph Hasenhuttl’s in-form Saints in the Premier League. The 29-year-old left the St Mary’s outfit for Villa Park last summer for an initial .
He had entered the final year of his contract on the south coast before leaving in a deal that can reach £30m. But Ings has struggled to provide the Birmingham natives with a consistent goal threat so far this season.
Ings has managed just four top-flight goals and laid on two assists over 19 appearances, also starting just 15. He has not found the back of the net since January 2 either, and last offered an assist on September 18.
Aston Villa have not been flush with goals over Ings’ five-game drought. Gerrard also chose against Ings featuring at all in February’s 3-3 draw with Leeds. The Whites clash had three of Villa’s eight goals since Ings last hit.
Gerrard says ‘people on the outside’ judge Ings differently to Aston Villa
Gerrard, though, believes Ings is playing well on the whole for Aston Villa ahead of hosting Southampton on Saturday. He also backs the former Saints marksman, who scored 12 last season, to start scoring soon.
“By people on the outside, strikers are judged just on goals,” Gerrard . “But we judge players on a lot of things around their main skill set and Danny is doing fine. Everything we have asked him to do, he is doing.
“It will only be a matter of time before the goals come… Danny is a goalscorer. I am sure in his own mind he is thinking about goals. That is natural. But as his manager, I am happy with what he is giving.”
Gerrard will hope Ings shakes the monkey off his back when Aston Villa host Southampton. The Saints will arrive in Birmingham unbeaten in their last five Premier League games and winning their last two.
Aston Villa, on the other hand, have only won two of their last five and taken one draw. So, the Villans now sit 13th in the table while Hasenhuttl’s men are up to ninth. The Saints are also in the FA Cup quarter-final.