Southampton centre-back Armel Bella-Kotchap could be facing up to 12 weeks on the sidelines with a dislocated shoulder injury.
That is according to injury expert Ben Dinnery, who was providing his latest updates in Monday evening’s instalment of FPL injuries.
Bella-Kotchap was forced off the pitch before half-time in Southampton’s 1-1 Premier League draw with West Ham United last weekend.
Saints manager Ralph Hasenhüttl confirmed after the game that the centre-back had suffered a dislocated shoulder and could be back for the next game or in eight weeks.
And Dinnery agrees with the different variables in potential time on the sidelines for Bella-Kotchap, though the injury expert does suggest that the £8.6m summer signing could be facing 12 weeks out through injury.
“Bella-Kotchap, he dislocated his shoulder,” Dinnery told FPL injuries (03:54).
“Ralph Hasenhüttl said it could be one of those that the player recovers in time, or he could spend up to maybe six, eight, 12 weeks on the sidelines.
“The reason for the big disparity between those timeframes, of course it comes down to severity and whether the player will need any kind of surgical intervention to stabilise that shoulder joint.
“So, watch this space.”
TIF Thoughts on Dinnery’s comments…
We believe that Southampton fans will be extremely concerned to hear about the potential severity of Bella-Kotchap’s injury, with the centre-back proving to be one of Hasenhüttl’s best players this season.
The one-time Germany international has played in all but one of the south coast side’s Premier League fixtures this season according to Transfermarkt, and earned himself an assist in the side’s 2-1 victory at Leicester in August.
And an average SofaScore rating of 7.09 for his performances for the Saints in the Premier League this season ranks the 20-year-old as the side’s second-best performer, behind James Ward-Prowse.
Therefore, we think Southampton fans will be desperate for Bella-Kotchap to make a speedy recovery, and hopefully be available in time for Wednesday’s trip to Bournemouth.