Centre Watkin had a breakthrough season in 2015-16, but suffered an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury in training last July.
Now back fit, Watkin can’t wait to return to the field alongside experienced duo Hook and Beck, men he idolised growing up.
“It’s tough mentally when you’re injured. You feel isolated and my injury was such a bad one it meant there were a lot of ups and downs,” Watkin said.
“I’m fully fit now. It’s been great to get back working with the rest of the team. I was so used to playing week in, week out, so to go from that to not playing for nearly two years was a big shock.
“Now I just want to get out there.”
Watkin grew up watching new Ospreys signing Hook in his previous spell at the Liberty Stadium and models his game on fellow centre Beck. Now, both men are team-mates in Swansea.
“As a youngster I looked up to James so to be training with him everyday just doesn’t feel real,” he added.
“He’s always there to help which is great for me because he’s had such an incredible career.
“Ashley Beck was another player I idolised as a youngster. I haven’t played with him yet, but again to train with him in this environment at the Ospreys is just surreal.
“He’s such a skilful player and hopefully I can pick some of that up.”
Before Watkin’s injury, he’d helped Wales Under-20 to a Six Nations Grand Slam and taken to life with the Ospreys with ease. A powerful ball carrier, Watkin is ideally suited to inside centre.
“The coaches are just watching my workload to see how I react, but I’d have been fit to play this weekend if I was needed. I’m flying and we have Leicester on Friday,” he said.
“I’m hoping I can get a few minutes there to get back into it. It will have been 16 months out by that time, so I just need to get that first game over and done with.
“If something does come with Wales then I’d be over the moon, but I just need to concentrate on playing for the Ospreys first.”
