Much was expected of Callum Wilson before a ball was even kicked last season, after the striker scored 20 league goals in Bournemouth’s Championship winning campaign in 2014/15.
Wilson immediately looked as if he could follow in the footsteps of budget strikers such as Grant Holt, Rickie Lambert and Charlie Austin, who had successfully made the step up from the second tier of English football in recent years, by scoring five goals in his first six appearances. Unfortunately for the Cherries, the forward ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament against Stoke in Gameweek 7, keeping him on the sidelines until Gameweek 33.
Having shown flashes of his ability during the opening weeks of last term, and with a full pre-season behind him, the former Coventry front man could once again arrive on Fantasy managers’ radars as a cheap third striking option.
KEY FACTORS
- Over the opening seven Gameweeks of last season, Wilson had a goal conversion rate of 41.7%, which was ranked second among forwards who had made at least four appearances. He also took the runners-up spot for penalty box touches (52) over the same period, behind only Southampton’s Graziano Pelle (69), while he hit the target with seven of 12 attempts on goal. The Bournemouth striker was certainly producing the goods at that point, comparing favourably to Watford’s Odion Ighalo and even Leicester’s Jamie Vardy.
- While Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe will have been delighted to keep his side in the top flight last term, it’s fair to say his approach during the second half of the 2015/16 campaign was more results-driven. Starting afresh in August, there’s a good chance we’ll see Howe encourage his team to show more ambition in matches to try and recreate some of the form during the first half of last season, when they registered impressive victories against West Ham and Man United. The Cherries boss should also have money to spend this summer, and while a new striker may not be high on the priority list, having signed Benik Afobe and Lewis Grabban in the January transfer window, adding quality to the midfield could only boost Wilson’s prospects heading into next season.
- Another positive regarding Wilson’s appeal is the fact he may still be in line to remain Bournemouth’s designated penalty taker, having assumed spot-kick duties at the beginning of last season, prior to his injury. His only other rival appears to be Afobe, who is more likely to be an understudy to Wilson in attack.
- Wilson was priced at a very reasonable 5.5 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) last term, and, given the injury-ravaged season he endured, it appears unlikely that’ll rise too drastically. A price of 6.0 or 6.5 seems likely, which could still represent fantastic value if the Bournemouth frontman can replicate his early season form from a year ago. Certainly having proven himself in the top flight, opting for Wilson ahead of the likes of unproven forwards such as Burnley’s Andre Gray and Middlesbrough’s Jordan Rhodes could tip the scales in his favour for some FPL bosses.
- Speaking about Wilson after he returned towards the end of last season, Howe admitted the forward wouldn’t return to his best form until the 2016/17 campaign. Wilson was also subject to interest from West Ham last month but it appears unlikely the Cherries would be willing to sell as they look to establish themselves as a Premier League side:
“We need to keep a close eye on him and make sure he’s building up his strength, his touch, his game awareness. It’s just great to have him training around us every day…I don’t think we’ll see that until next season.”
- Although Howe’s side start with a home clash against United and trip to West Ham, it’s worth noting they won both the corresponding fixtures in 2015/16, with Wilson netting a hat-trick away to the Hammers. Granted, history may not repeat itself next time around but with a host of favourable fixtures (cpl, WBA, EVE, wat, HUL, mid, SUN) between Gameweek 3-11, the Cherries’ forward has the schedule to play himself into our early-season plans.
