Ever since Ollie Watkins gained national acclaim by firing England to a major tournament final, it feels as though he has struggled to find his bearings again.
Nine months have passed since Watkins' winner against the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-final, when he showed he could deliver under the most intense pressure.
A similar career-defining moment would come in handy against Paris Saint-Germain, and not only for Aston Villa's chances of reaching the Champions League semi-finals. Even though Watkins has 15 goals and 12 assists this term, he has sometimes struggled to find peak form after barely having a break for two years.
It is no exaggeration to say Watkins' long-term future at Villa may be influenced by his performances - and involvement - over the final weeks of the campaign, with Villa also trying to win the FA Cup and secure a top-five finish in the Premier League.
While he was attempting the near-impossible job of supplanting Harry Kane as England's first-choice centre forward, Watkins felt secure as Villa's main man in attack. That status is much more fragile now, with first Jhon Duran and now Marcus Rashford sometimes preferred by Villa boss Unai Emery through the middle.
This has unsettled Watkins but Emery's response to such concerns from players is firm: like it or lump it.
'We are increasing our level, firstly because we are playing more matches than we were when my coaching team and I arrived here,' Emery explained. 'We played 56 matches last season and we will play a similar number this year.
'Then there are players who are playing for their countries, who weren't doing as much when I arrived. One of those is Watkins.
'If you are playing at the highest level, usually it's because you are competing with good team-mates, and this is the process we have. The players have to understand that when we increase our level, it is more competitive for them as well.
'We have to use two players per position to reach our objectives. This year, Watkins played at the start of the season when he was not completely fit. At that time, we needed Jhon Duran and he helped us to get a lot of points.
'Now it is a similar situation with Marcus Rashford but we need both of them (Watkins and Rashford).'
Emery's team selection at Villa Park, where Villa must overturn a 3-1 deficit to advance to the last four, will tell us a great deal about Watkins' prospects. All logic says the striker should start.
Though he made a key contribution to Morgan Rogers' goal, Rashford was largely on the fringes against PSG. Watkins is a much busier frontman and would apply constant pressure to the PSG backline when Villa do not have the ball.
Then there is his record. Watkins has been outstanding under Emery, scoring 56 goals and producing 32 assists in 125 games. He will surely pass Gabby Agbonlahor's tally of 74 to become Villa's leading scorer in the Premier League - he needs two more to take the outright lead.
Yet still Watkins finds himself under scrutiny. Despite operating as a wide man early in his career, he has nearly always been a No 9 during nearly five years at Villa Park and increasingly, Emery prefers players who can fulfil a number of attacking roles.
Emery has always liked Ferran Torres, the Barcelona forward, and unless the 25-year-old signs a new deal at the Nou Camp it would be no surprise to see Villa move again in the summer. Last December, Emery chose Duran over Watkins for four straight League games and had the Colombian not been sent off in the 3-0 defeat at Newcastle, he would surely have kept his place for a longer stretch.
Duran is a complex character and this was undoubtedly a consideration for Villa when accepting a £66.5million offer from Saudi club Al Nassr in January. Villa turned down a bid from Arsenal for Watkins at the same time.
By then, Duran had served his ban and failed to regain his spot from Watkins. Had the roles been reversed, Villa would undoubtedly have considered selling Watkins - not least because he is eight years older than Duran.
Watkins has also struggled with knee trouble this term and there is a perception at Villa that he produces his best when he is the undisputed first choice - as he was during Emery's first two seasons.
That is why the 29-year-old's contribution at Southampton last Saturday felt significant, as he scored the opener after coming on as a second-half substitute and was Villa's most effective attacker.
As angry as he is to no longer be an automatic starter, Watkins channelled his frustration in the right way. That will have been welcomed by Emery, who has little sympathy for grumpy players.
For much of this campaign, Watkins and Rogers have formed an effective duo. The pair have played together 57 times since January 2024 and have developed an impressive understanding.
'He (Watkins) has improved my game,' said Rogers. 'Our connection has got better and better and that's come with becoming closer off the pitch. It's nice to play with someone of that calibre.'