Alan Shearer on the Europa Final: In-form Watkins can carry Villa to victory

Emery a potential manager of the season if Villa win

Without doubt, Villa can win the Europa League tonight.

Freiburg won last weekend, Villa won last weekend but I guess their weapon is Unai Emery. He knows how to navigate, he knows how to win this competition. He's going for trophy number five. This is final number six for him.

There is an argument, if he wins it, for him to be manager of the season after getting Aston Villa into the Champions League. I know if they win tonight, they go into it as well but he's done a remarkable job with the little finance that they've had this season, in terms of bringing players in and the lack of players that came in.

And for them to play week after week after week at the weekend, and then back in midweek, I think is an unbelievable achievement. I know Mikel Arteta will get manager of the season but there's an argument for Emery if they win tonight.

Tuchel's snub did Ollie Watkins a favour

As soon as Ollie Watkins wasn't named in that England squad he's actually been in great form. He's scoring goals, he's looking sharp, he's looking good, and he's a shoo-in for the England squad. I have no doubt he'll be in the squad when he names it on Friday, I think he'll be the backup for Harry Kane.

He is absolutely vital for this Villa side. He's played a huge part in Aston Villa's league success this season and last. Whether other clubs in and around Villa are looking at him now I don't know. I suspect not because of the price tag and the age and all of those things, but that doesn't take away from what he's done for Aston Villa and helping them again this season.

Watkins is hitting form at the right time, so don't be surprised if he were to get a goal or two tonight and help Villa to win that trophy.

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Morgan Rogers has a massive summer ahead

Morgan Rogers is a top talent and I think he's one of the first names on Thomas Tuchel's team sheet at the World Cup. He's certainly one of the first names on Unai Emery's teamsheet tonight. He's exceptional and I think there's going to be huge interest in him during this summer, definitely.

Saints' Spygate punishment is really harsh

Without knowing too many ins and outs, I think that the punishment is really harsh on Southampton. I'm not sure the crime meets the punishment. I mean Marcelo Bielsa admitted to it a few years back and I think it was about a £200,000 fine. I know then the laws or the rules changed then, but you're talking about 200 million quid here.

I don't know, we'll have to see what the appeal comes to today, but I think it's harsh, and I know the rules are there and I know you can't do it, but it does look incredibly harsh for me. I mean, Middlesbrough will argue that they shouldn't have sent someone to watch them when you can't do that. I understand that and get it.

But it's incredibly harsh and on the flip side for both clubs, the fans and the players for Southampton must be going from jubilation to feeling like, what is going on?

It's such a difficult scenario for both clubs because in reality, the Boro players would be away on holiday but they've had to stick around for an extra week. They still can't go away. They might have the most important game of their career on Saturday. It might get put back. Who knows? I don't know. But it's the same for the Southampton players.

It's a really messy scenario, but I guess Southampton have only got themselves to blame. It does seem incredibly harsh to me.

Now read Betfair's preview of the Europa League final