Reports today suggest that Jermain Defoe could face surgery on his calf injury – a decision that would sideline the striker for around six weeks.

Tony Adams has indicated that Defoe will see a specialist on Monday after missing yesterday’s draw with Hull so we are set to know more then. The player himself however, has already ruled himself for weeks according to a report in the Sunday Mirror…

“I’ve been suffering for the past three games with the calf injury and it’s got to the stage that when I play, I can’t feel my foot because of the numbness,” Defoe explained to the Mirror.

“I have had treatment including acupuncture but it’s showing no signs of clearing up…t’s a minor operation but means I will be absent for at least four weeks.”

If confirmed, this setback will be a major blow for Pompey and for the thousands of fantasy managers who invested in Defoe leading up to his favourable fixtures in the coming weeks. Defoe’s absence for the rest of the year would give Adams little choice but to turn to fringe players such as Kanu and Nugent who were both on the bench yesterday. He could opt for a 4-5-1 with Kranjcar employed behind the striker once fit – however I can’t see Crouch being used as a lone striker at Fratton Park.

Kanu – at a budget price across the games, could be worth a look as a short-term option then. Crouch would, at first glance, represent a decent option for those who suffer from any Defoe absence but you have to question just how effective he will be without Defoe to buzz around defences alongside him.

It’s more likely that we will see more investment in strikers in Defoe’s price bracket. With almost 30% of FPL managers owning the Portsmouth man, we can expect a lot of sales and plenty of attention for the likes of Bent, Agbonlahor and maybe even Pavlyuchenko, if a lengthy absence for Defoe is confirmed.