By Noel Whelan

10th May, 2022 | 1:19pm

Aston Villa have 'hit the jackpot' amid 'brilliant' Danny Ings claim - pundit

Noel Whelan has suggested Steven Gerrard has “hit the jackpot” by playing Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins together at Aston Villa.

The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the pair can be a “really potent strike force” who “thrive” when playing alongside one another.

Gerrard’s decision to employ a 4-4-2 diamond formation paid dividends during Saturday’s (7 May) 3-1 win over Burnley, with both Ings, 28, and Watkins, 26, both on the scoresheet.

The England internationals have netted a combined 17 Premier League goals this season.

As revealed by Football Insider (19 April) Aston Villa are preparing a bumper new contract for Watkins to fend off potential suitors – with Arsenal having registered their interest.

This site has also revealed (18 March) Brighton’s interest in Ings as they target a proven Premier League operator this summer.

Whelan urged Aston Villa to persist with the diamond system after their recent sucess.

“Ings and Watkins are not bad Premier League strikers,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.

“They seem to thrive from playing with one another, and both are pretty well-rounded forwards. They can do almost everything in that final third.

“I think right now that a diamond system is a brilliant option for Steven Gerrard. He’s hit the jackpot.

“They don’t lose any creativity by having two centre forwards. They can both drop in and play in between the lines if they have to.

“The goals at the weekend just prove that they can be a really potent strike force when they are given the opportunity to play together.”

Aston Villa sit 11th in the Premier League – 12 points adrift of a European berth.

Ings has notched seven goal contributions in his last seven appearances.

In other news, Kieran Maguire shreds Aston Villa owners after ignorant announcement.