Brentford, Newcastle, and Sheffield United have faced a disproportionate amount of injuries compared to other Premier League clubs in the current season. According to data from Premier Injuries, Brentford players have collectively lost a staggering 725 days due to injuries since the season commenced just 130 days ago on August 11.
Following closely, Newcastle finds themselves in the second spot on the injury list, tallying 691 lost days. The Magpies have been contending on multiple fronts, participating in six challenging group-stage matches in the Champions League and advancing to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
Sheffield United, currently occupying the bottom spot in the Premier League table, reappointed Chris Wilder as manager after dismissing Paul Heckinbottom two weeks ago. However, the Blades’ struggles have been further exacerbated by injuries, with the team collectively losing 667 days due to various injuries so far in the season.
Several other Premier League clubs have also experienced above-average totals for days lost due to injuries in the current season. Brighton leads the rest with 594 days lost, followed by Manchester United with 574, Chelsea with 557, and Crystal Palace with 493. These clubs, like Sheffield United, have grappled with significant injury setbacks, which can significantly impact team performance and results.
Manchester United has faced persistent challenges on the injury front, with no respite in sight. The team has endured a substantial number of injuries, leading the league with a staggering 22 separate instances where players have been sidelined for one game or more due to injuries. This continuous string of injuries has put immense pressure on the squad’s depth, testing the team’s resilience throughout the season.
Most common injuries
Hamstring strains have emerged as a significant concern in the current season, resulting in the most time lost among injuries. So far, a total of 2,082 days have been lost specifically due to hamstring strains. When considering both “hamstring injuries” and instances requiring “hamstring surgery,” this number expands to 2,319 days.
The prevalence of hamstring-related issues underscores the impact and challenges posed by this particular type of injury across football clubs.
Various other injuries have taken a toll on players throughout the season, contributing to significant days lost. Among these, general ‘muscular injuries’ have resulted in 859 days lost, followed by calf strains with 710 days lost. ‘Knee injuries’ have also been a factor, leading to a considerable loss of playing time. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, a particularly serious type, have accounted for 454 days lost.
Notable players affected by ACL injuries include Jurrien Timber and Tyrone Mings, both with 128 days lost, Rico Henry with 93 days lost, and Ivan Perisic with 90 days lost. These injuries underscore the challenges teams face in managing and preventing various types of injuries throughout the course of a season.
Why are these injuries becoming more common?
The relationship between workloads and the rising trend for intense playing styles is a complex one, and it involves various factors such as fitness regimes, recovery strategies, and individual player characteristics.
While Aston Villa, Manchester City, and Arsenal have played the most games across all competitions this season with 26 each, it’s interesting to note that none of these clubs feature prominently among the most affected clubs in terms of days lost through injuries.
This suggests that the impact of workload on injuries is not solely determined by the number of games played. Other factors, such as the quality of fitness and medical staff, player rotation strategies, and the overall conditioning of the squad, can play a crucial role in managing and preventing injuries despite a demanding schedule. The relationship between workload and injuries is multifaceted and can vary from club to club.
Sheffield United injury list
Finally a bit of good news on the injury front for the Blades, there are only five players now on the list: John Egan, Chris Basham, Tom Davies, Rhian Brewster, Rhys Norrington Davies. But the latter has just recently featured in a Sheffield United development match, signaling that his return to the first team is on the horizon.
