The October international break came as a blow to some Premier League teams, who saw their key players suffer injuries in the line of duty.
As FPL managers prepare for another Gameweek, SportsCasting takes a look at the players who suffered injuries during the October international break and lists suitable replacements.
Watkins and Gravenberch Picked Up Injuries in October International Break
Three Premier League players picked up fresh injuries during the October international break.
Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch, and Brentford’s Aaron Hickey all endured disappointing ends to the international window.
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) Injury News
Ollie Watkins started for England as they took on Wales in a friendly at Wembley Stadium last week. Watkins enjoyed a bright start, as he scored the Three Lions’ second goal in the 11th minute. He showed great awareness to take his chance from inside the box.
In the 40th minute, Watkins tried to get on the end of Elliot Anderson’s pull-back inside the box. The Aston Villa man slid in to poke the ball home, but instead clattered against Welsh post. The medical team rushed in and Watkins played no further part in the match.
Ollie Watkins suffered a NASTY injury after colliding with the post on international duty 😳👀 pic.twitter.com/n67mQ6aLfP
— Daily Mail Sport (@MailSport) October 10, 2025
Due to the injury, Watkins was absent from England’s 5-0 drubbing of Latvia in the World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday.
Although Watkins was in a lot of discomfort after the injury, it does not appear serious enough to keep him out of action on Matchday 8. The Villans resume their Premier League journey with a trip to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Aaron Hickey (Brentford) Injury News
Scotland international Aaron Hickey suffered a knee injury in Scotland’s 3-1 victory over Greece. The 23-year-old came off in the 58th minute against Greece and could not make the squad for the 2-1 victory over Belarus on Sunday.
Hickey started the last two games for Greece. On Matchday 6, he helped Brentford beat United 3-1 and held Manchester City to only a 1-0 victory.
The technique 👌
So good, Aaron Hickey ❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/liH7s303Wk
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) September 17, 2025
Hickey was already uncomfortable with his knee and the injury aggravated it. Brentford are currently assessing him, but he should be fit to report for the clash against West Ham United on Monday night.
Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool) Injury News
Alarm bells went off when Ronald Koeman pulled Ryan Gravenberch out in the routing 4-0 win over Finland on Sunday. After initial assessment, medicos discovered that Gravenberch suffered a hamstring injury.
Ryan Gravenberch is now the most valuable Dutch player 🤑 pic.twitter.com/rbcz4SV1em
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) October 13, 2025
However, his substitution was only precautionary, meaning the Dutchman should report fit for Liverpool’s mouth-watering clash with Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
Best FPL Replacements for Injured Premier League Players
Best Replacement for Ollie Watkins – Nick Woltemade (£7.2m)
Ollie Watkins suffered a painful injury in the win over Wales. However, according to reports, it is unlikely to keep him out of action this weekend. So, if you want to save one transfer, you can opt to keep the Englishman for Gameweek 8.
While Watkins may be fit to feature in Gameweek 8, he is not the best bang-for-your-buck striker in the market at the moment. The £8.7 million forward has scored just one goal this season and only has 20 points to his name in FPL.
In his place, you could bring in Newcastle United striker Nick Woltemade, who has been firing on all cylinders lately. Before the international break, he scored in three consecutive games for the Magpies in all competitions.
He also scored the only goal as Germany beat Northern Ireland on Monday night.
Woltemade costs only £7.2 million in FPL and has scored 24 points after playing four Premier League games.
Best Replacement for Aaron Hickey – Nordi Mukiele (£4.0m)
Brentford full-back Aaron Hickey is a filler in most FPL squads. Costing just £4 million, he is an interesting differential pick, as he carries the prospect of occasional attacking contributions.
This season, however, he has yet to establish himself as a first-choice option. As a result, he has only scored six points from as many appearances.
If you are in the market for an upgrade, Sunderland’s Nordi Mukiele is a worthy contender. Also coming in at £4.0 million, Mukiele is a regular in the starting XI and has scored 27 FPL points thus far.
The Black Cats have also been a lot more defensively sound than Brentford this season, making Mukiele a lucrative option.
Best Replacement for Ryan Gravenberch – Moises Caicedo (£5.8m)
Ryan Graverberch is only a minor doubt for the Matchday 8 clash against Manchester United. But if you want to play it extra safe and want a replacement in midfield, Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo could be the right pick.
Costing £5.8 million, the Ecuadorian midfielder, who is one of our top FPL picks for Gameweek 8, has scored 45 FPL points this season, eight more than Gravenberch. Caicedo scored the opening goal as Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-1 just before the international break.
The Blues have also looked more sorted at the back this season. Considering how crucial DEFCON points have become, you ought to factor in the probability of a clean sheet.
