Villa are on a run of five wins in a row across all competitions and despite a poor start to the season, are just four points off the top of the Premier League table.
Emery has faith in Watkins
Emery’s side travel to the Amex Stadium as they track down a Champions League spot, which looks more that doable this year. One player who will want to impress against Brighton is Watkins, who has scored just once in 19 appearances across all competitions.
"They (Watkins and Donyell Malen) are two very good players and I am playing both.
"Watkins has my complete confidence. He is always doing his task, maybe he is feeling under his normal (levels of) confidence because he is not scoring but he is never giving up on his task.
"He is always doing positive things for the team and he is very important for us. The goals are coming.
"I am so, so happy for Malen. He is giving us what we need tactically and of course, scoring."
Team news
Villa have three wins in their last five head-to-heads against the Seagulls which will bring confidence to Emery's side who will be without Tyrone Mings and Ross Barkley who Emery revealed will be out for a number of months.
Ross Barkley's injury "is more than we expected," said Emery. "I don’t know exactly but maybe 8-12 weeks.
"Hopefully it will be a bit less. It is a pity because he was helping us a lot and so close to being in the starting team."
Finally, Emery made a quick comment on Brighton ahead of the clash which could secure his sides' spot in the top four.
“How they are performing at home, how they are getting points at home – four victories and two draws – wow, what a match.
“And they are playing fantastic, and they are performing fantastic.”