The start to Callum Wilson’s first season in the Premier League could hardly have been any better.
The AFC Bournemouth striker immediately forced his way into the plans of Fantasy Premier League managers by scoring five times in the opening six fixtures of 2015/16.
A hat-trick in a 4-3 win at West Ham United, followed by strikes at home to Leicester City and Sunderland, sparked a scramble for Wilson’s services as he seamlessly made the step up from the Championship.
Over the first six Gameweeks, the Cherries striker was the top-rated forward for Influence in the new ICT Index and sat second when it came to Threat.
Then disaster struck.
Wilson sustained a serious knee injury less than 20 minutes into the Gameweek 7 trip to Stoke City and was subsequently sidelined until early April.
With his side’s top-flight safety assured, Eddie Howe handed the striker just two more starts upon his return, with one eye on the 2016/17 campaign.
Nonetheless, Wilson’s average of 164 minutes per goal last term was the eighth best for forwards with five or more strikes. His rate was in between proven top-flight performers such as Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud (160.6 minutes) and West Ham United’s Andy Carroll (171.9 minutes).
Priced at £6.5m this season, Wilson has returned to full fitness over the summer and has already netted twice as he looks to replicate the return of 20 goals and seven assists that fired AFC Bournemouth to the 2014/15 Championship title.
Having scored three times away to West Ham last term, Wilson will hold no fear ahead of the Gameweek 2 trip to Slaven Bilic’s side. Following that, the Cherries’ marksman has back-to-back encounters against Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion to force his way into our plans.