Transfer Window Increases Importance of Good Medical Care

Part 2 - the impact for Premiership clubs

Injuries are an inevitable part of Premiership football and the top clubs are well prepared to deal with them. Manchester United has a full time doctor and a team of five Chartered Physiotherapists who attend the player's injuries. This allows for immediate assessment and treatment of all injured players, in order to expedite their return to competition. Intensive physiotherapy treatment, seven days a week if necessary, means that players often make their comebacks astonishingly quickly. Ruud Van Nistelrooy has been out with two separate hamstring injuries this season, but each time he has returned to action in less than two weeks. If the average time out with a hamstring injury is 3 to 4 weeks then the financial saving to the club, due to Chartered Physiotherapists getting Van Nistelrooy back in two weeks will be in the region of £150,000 (the Dutchman's basic salary is reportedly £75,000 per week). The effect of him being back on the pitch and scoring goals means more than that to Sir Alex Ferguson and the United fans.

Champions Arsenal were beset by a host of injury problems on their way to the title last season, but the ability of their medical team to quickly restore the injured players to action meant that Arsene Wenger's title aspirations were not derailed. Clubs have realised that facilities to aid the speedy rehabilitation of injured players are essential and millions have been invested in treatment facilities, gym equipment, and in the case of Manchester United and Arsenal, hydrotherapy pools.

The value of a good medical team will increase in the context of the new UEFA transfer regulations, with coaches unable to sign replacements for injured players. The ability of the medical teams to return players quickly and safely will become even more important. This in turn increases pressure on medical staff to deal with injuries as quickly as possible. The last few Premiership seasons have shown that a poor run of form for a month, due to injuries to key players, can ruin a club's chances of winning the title.

The implications of the new system remain to be seen. It is not inconceivable that players may have to 'play hurt' if a team is in a desperate situation because of an 'injury crisis' - particularly those players at clubs who don't have large squads. It may not be possible to fully address an injury problem and allow an injured player to rest, until a replacement can be signed during the transfer window. Alternatively the new system may force coaches to manage their personnel more effectively in order to avoid injuries within the squad. This may involve enforced rests and squad rotation, which could result in an improvement in the health of Premiership players.

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