Ollie Watkins has suffered a setback at the start of his spell with Al Hilal after missing training ahead of the club’s AFC Champions League clash with Al-Gharafa.
The former Aston Villa striker had made an encouraging start to life in Saudi Arabia following his £51 million move away from Villa Park.
Watkins scored three goals in his first four Saudi Pro League appearances, quickly establishing himself as an important attacking option for his new club.
However, his progress has now been interrupted by a physical issue.
Before Al Hilal’s meeting with Qatari side Al-Gharafa in the AFC Champions League, Watkins was absent from training.
The club explained that the striker had undergone a treatment session at the medical clinic at Almajdiah Sport Hub because of discomfort in his lower back.
Inzaghi provides Ollie Watkins fitness update
Speaking ahead of the match, Al Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi provided an update on the former Villa forward.
The Italian coach revealed that Ollie Watkins was experiencing some fatigue and that his availability would be assessed following the team’s training session.
“Watkins is feeling a little bit of fatigue, and we will determine his availability after today’s session,” Inzaghi said.
The update comes after a demanding opening period for Ollie Watkins in Saudi Arabia.
His first four appearances for Al Hilal came across just 12 days, with the striker starting three of those matches after initially making his debut from the bench.
That workload is particularly notable given that Watkins had not featured for Aston Villa during pre-season before completing his move.
Heavy workload after Villa departure
Watkins had been given an extended period of rest by Unai Emery following his involvement with England at the World Cup.
He subsequently joined Al Hilal and quickly found his rhythm, scoring three times in his first four league outings.
The early signs had therefore been positive for the striker, but the latest fitness concern comes as Al Hilal prepare for another important fixture.
For now, the club will assess Watkins before deciding whether he is fit enough to feature against Al-Gharafa.
The Aston Villa News BR verdict
Ollie Watkins made an excellent start to his new chapter in Saudi Arabia, with three goals in four appearances after his £51 million departure from Aston Villa.
The concern appears to be centred around fatigue and lower-back discomfort rather than a confirmed major injury, but the timing is certainly worth monitoring given how quickly he has been introduced into Al Hilal’s team.
After a long rest following his World Cup involvement and no Villa pre-season appearances, Watkins has suddenly been playing regularly across a short period. His absence from training could therefore be an important reminder that his workload needs to be managed carefully.
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