“When Jhon Duran comes on to the pitch you just know what’s going to happen.”
The Aston Villa forward has scored four goals in five Premier League matches this season, all of them as a substitute.
As ex-Premier League defender Nedum Onuoha suggested on BBC Radio 5 Live, Duran scoring goals off the bench feels inevitable.
The Colombian has scored winners against West Ham, Leicester and Everton in this campaign and on Saturday, as a substitute, added his side’s third in a 3-1 win over rivals Wolves.
Duran is well on his way to becoming the player with the most winning goals after starting as a substitute in the Premier League. Seven players share the all-time record of five.
Duran may be finding it difficult to displace star striker Ollie Watkins – who scored 27 goals for Villa last season – and netted his side’s equaliser against Wolves.
But, with him banging them in from the bench, Duran is fast becoming the ultimate impact sub.
Most goals from subs in Premier League – the stats
Villa were having an off-day, 1-0 down to rivals Wolves on Saturday when Duran replaced Jacob Ramsey in the 62nd minute.
The home fans greeted his arrival with a wall of noise.
Just 11 minutes later he won a loose ball on the edge of the box and fed Morgan Rogers who in turn set up Watkins for Villa’s equaliser.
After Ezri Konsa put the hosts ahead in the 88th minute, Duran struck in the fourth minute of added time following a well-timed run and calm finish after Morgan’s pass across goal.
“He’s a big talent,” team-mate Konsa told BBC Match of the Day. “We see it every day in training. It’s important for him to stay humble and we’ll help him do that. He’s still young.”
The stats make impressive reading.
Six of Villa’s past 12 Premier League goals have been scored by Duran after he came off the bench.
The 20-year-old has scored a goal every 80 minutes across his league career. Only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has a better ratio with a strike every 79 minutes (minimum two goals scored).
Duran’s three winning goals as a substitute – which equate to one every 33 minutes – are the joint-most for winners in a single Premier League season.
But he still has some way to go to match Adam le Fondre’s record of eight as a sub, winners or not, in a single campaign.
While Jermain Defoe (24) has the most all-time Premier League goals as a substitute. Duran, who has eight, is not even in the top 40.
Struggling for starts and wanted by West Ham
Eight of Duran’s nine Aston Villa goals have been scored off the bench. He is two away from pinching Julian Joachim’s club Premier League record.
It begs the question, why is he not starting?
Well, with Villa utilising just one striker he is playing second fiddle to Watkins who has three goals in six games this term.
Duran made just three starts for Villa last season and scored in one of them, against Manchester City in a 4-1 loss.
This term he has not come on before the 60th minute.
“Good impact again [from Duran],” said Villa manager Unai Emery. “We will need all the players in the matches we play in the next few weeks.”
This summer Duran agreed personal terms with West Ham, but Villa turned down two bids for the forward from the Hammers.
He appears to have shown why and justified their decision not to sell.