FPL managers around the world held their breath as Ollie Watkins limped off the Villa Park turf on Thursday night.
With a combined total of 26 goals and assists so far in the 2023/24 Premier League season, the England international has become a permanent fixture in fantasy teams.
However, after coming off after just 33 minutes of the 4-0 second-leg victory over Ajax in the Europa Conference League, there are some concerns over whether Watkins will be fit enough to face West Ham on Sunday.
Here’s what’s known about his injury and what Villans manager Unai Emery has said.
Watkins suffered a cut to his knee when he collided with Ajax goalkeeper Diant Ramaj in the 19th minute. The shot-stopper was booked for the challenge, where he appeared to land on Watkins’ knee.
While the former Brentford attacker continued playing and even opened the scoring around six minutes after the incident, heading in Douglas Luiz’s corner, the cut was too deep.
Watkins had his knee bandaged up in an attempt to continue playing, but he continued hobbling either side of his goal and was eventually replaced by Jhon Duran.
Unai Emery gave a hopeful update on Watkins after Thursday night’s 4-0 drubbing of Ajax which set up a European quarter-final with Lille in April.
He said: “Hopefully it’s nothing major. It’s a small injury and we hope he’ll be ready for Sunday but we will have to wait for tomorrow and then Saturday, and see. Diego Carlos too – he has a small hamstring injury but we will have to wait and see.”
Villa winger Leon Bailey admitted he was concerned by the injury, adding: “It looked really bad when I saw it. It was an open wound. I didn’t want him to come off but Jhon Duran did brilliantly. It was sad to see him come off.”
FPL Gameweek 29 only contains four fixtures due to this weekend’s concurrent FA Cup quarter-finals, with many teams seeing games postponed. That means potential Watkins replacements are slim.
However, there are still points to be claimed elsewhere. Ivan Toney (£8.2m) will fancy his chances of bagging a few goals against lowly Burnley, while strike partners Yoane Wissa (£5.6m) and Neal Maupay (£4.9m) may also be worth a punt.
Luton Town forward Carlton Morris (£5.2m) has regularly rewarded backers this season with eight goals and six assists and could go big against Nottingham Forest, while teammate Chiedozie Ogbene (£4.9m) could be a good differential.
