Premier League: Dennis is a doubt for Chelsea clash

Watford head coach Claudio Ranieri has cast doubt on Emmanuel Dennis playing any part in Wednesday’s clash with Premier League leaders Chelsea. 

The forward was replaced by Ashley Fletcher after 71 minutes at the King Power Stadium just moments after Ademola Lookman increased the Foxes’ advantage to seal a 4-2 win.

Dennis had halved the deficit on the hour mark, with his fifth strike this season seeing him become only the sixth player in Premier League history to score five and assist as many in 12 appearances or fewer—joining Eric Cantona (11), Jurgen Klinsmann (12), Arjen Robben (11), Andrey Arshavin (10) and Bruno Fernandes (nine).

Ranieri has revealed the severity of the injury that forced off the club’s top goal contributor will be known on Monday.

“With Dennis and Masina, I’m not sure at the moment. [On Monday] we’ll check everybody because Dennis came out and Masina didn't finish well,” the Italian disclosed after the 4-2 defeat. 

It represents a blow to the Hornets given the attacker’s impressive showings in recent weeks, and adds to the growing injury list at the club, with Ismaila Sarr also missing out on Sunday. 

Dennis was influential in both goals at the King Power, winning the penalty for Josh King’s equalizer before scoring a second on the hour that made it 3-2 and gave the visitors a fighting chance. 

The goal came about after the Nigerian harried Timothy Castagne, the sort of aggression and fortitude Ranieri felt was in short supply in the defeat.

“In the end, we created more chances than Leicester, but they won because they were more determined than us and that is frustrating,” the Watford boss rued. “If we’d been more determined we’d have scored more of the chances.  

“We did well in the match because we pulled it back to 1-1 and then 3-2, but we didn’t manage to take control. 

“I am positive because of the number of chances we created; we just have to be more aggressive.”

Watford host Chelsea on Wednesday looking to end the leaders’ seven-game unbeaten league run at Vicarage Road. 

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Seye Omidiora is a passionate football writer and pundit whose deep appreciation for the beautiful game exceeds the usual. He is currently a columnist for Goal Africa and has previously written for Vital Football UK, IBCity Info and Opera News.

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