The main talking point from Brentford's 1-3 away win at Barnsley yesterday was the performance of forward Ollie Watkins, who netted a hat-trick for the Bees as he continues his fine start to the season.

The hat-trick wasn't just any old hat-trick for the 23-year-old, he netted all three goals with his head impressively from crosses, an aspect of his game that Watkins isn't necessarily known for.

The Brentford striker is now the EFL Championship's top scorer with seven goals this season, and he continues to go from strength to strength as the forward begins to enter the prime years of his career.

Once January comes around, the likes of Crystal Palace in the Premier League are likely to come sniffing for the forward again, and it isn't the first time that they've registered interest in the forward, with Watkins linked with a move to Selhurst Park in the summer just gone and last January as a ready-made replacement for Palace forward Wilfried Zaha, who has stayed with the Eagles for now.

If Palace or another top-flight team was to make a move for the Brentford No.11 in January, then they would have a good forward on their hands.

Watkins has pace when on and off the ball, forcing defenders to even make a move for a tackle or back off and let him drive towards goal, either option being risky where Watkins is concerned because of his skilful dribbling.

Since the departure of Brentford's main man Neal Maupay in the summer for Brighton, Watkins is the man being trusted to lead the Brentford front-line by Thomas Frank as Watkins works on his all-round game as a No.9, already five goals away from equalling his best league tally since joining Brentford in 2017 (12 goals in 2018-2019).

Watkins can score goals and also has an unselfish side to his game, being a link-up man with the players around him and able to bring them into play when he gets the ball inside the opposition half.

Watkins may have no Premier League experience and didn't even progress through the academy of a Premier League club, but he is learning every day and would be a good punt for a top-flight side.