Football News: International Injury Round Up
Image from: bleacherreport.com
International injuries always seem to curse players, with the change of training routine particularly affecting those that are usually managed by their clubs to get them through as much as possible. Those who go away on international duty already nursing knocks, very often will end up coming back fully injured, as international managers do not have to worry about keeping them fit for a game a few days later. They can afford to take risks a club manager could not, which is why the club v country row is so fierce.
Player's like Liverpool's striker Daniel Sturridge missing almost the entirety of last season due to England's mismanagement of him is a case in point. This international break saw the usual list of casualties and this is a round up of those relating to Premier League players:
It was sad news for Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul, who ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament as Netherlands beat Kazakhstan 2-1. He is set to miss the rest of the season and Newcastle have already recalled Freddie Woodman from his loan spell at Crawley Town to provide cover for the number 2 keeper Rob Elliot. The injury will reinforce fears over artificial surfaces, as it was caused by landing awkwardly on the artificial turf of the Astana Arena towards the end of the game.
"I'm devastated the scan has confirmed my biggest fear, that I have torn my knee cruciate playing for Holland in the game against Kazakhstan last night," he said in a statement. "My recovery and hard work starts now to fully recover. I'm devastated I can't play a part on the pitch to help the team turn this season around. I still believe this club can - and should - be up there with the top teams." Toon boss Steve McClaren will have to find a way to turn round the club's form without him.
Serbia captain and Chelsea right back Branislav Ivanovic suffered a hamstring pull in his country's 2-0 win over Albania in Tirana, forcing him off after 65 minutes. While his form has been poor, as has the club's, Chelsea are heading into a busy and crucial period and can ill afford to be running short of players, especially as this game was particularly damaging to Chelsea players.
Just eight minutes after Ivanovic was forced off, defensive midfield lynchpin Nemanja Matic was substituted with a muscular problem. Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will be hoping the much maligned Chelsea medical team can work some magic, as the pressure builds on him following the club's poor start to the season.
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini must be furious with Argentina boss Gerardo Martino after Sergio Aguero suffered an injury to his left hamstring 22 minutes into a 2-0 defeat to Ecuador. The talismanic forward suffered the injury chasing opposition forward Gabriel Achilier and was stretchered off in tears. Worst of it was that Martino admitted he knew that Kun Aguero was not fully fit heading into the match, but claims the injury against Ecuador is not related:
"It's true that Aguero was carrying a problem," Martino said. "Pellegrini took him off after 60, 65 minutes in his last game [against Newcastle United]. But without having spoken in depth with the doctor, I'd venture to say the injury from today is not in the same place." I doubt that will mollify Pellegrini or City though.
Worse was to come for Man City, as the following day their playmaker David Silva was forced to hobble off following a tackle from Lars Gerson in Spain's 4-0 win over Luxembourg. Silva was caught on the ankle by the challenge and tried to play on, but after a couple of minutes was forced to signal to the bench that he could not continue. Having just returned from a calf injury, Pellegrini will be gutted to lose the 29 year old, who makes Citeh tick, again.
To add to Manchester City's injury woes from the international break, Alexsandar Kolarov was forced off with a knock during Serbia's match with Portugal. Despite this, he did manage to have a major input into the match, with the left back providing an assist for Serbia's equaliser, then, after being substituted due to the injury, he was sent off for protesting a refereeing decision on the touchline.
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has received better injury news as his England pair, Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney, are expected to be fit for the weekend's matches, despite both missing the two England games during the international break with injuries. Carrick had a groin problem and Rooney picked up an ankle injury during an England training session, but van Gaal will be boosted by the news that both should be fit to face Everton.
It was worse news for Manchester United's Germany legend Bastian Schweinsteiger, as the 31 year old midfielder was forced to pull out of his country's match with the Republic of Ireland after injuring his thigh in the warm up. The veteran midfielder will now be working hard to be ready for the trip to Goodison Park on Saturday.
Manchester United defender Paddy McNair helped Northern Ireland to secure qualification to Euro 2016 on Thursday, but the weekend's 1-1 draw with Finland was less enjoyable for the youngster. He suffered an abdominal injury in the 13th minute but continued to play on, before eventually being taken off six minutes into the second half. He spent Sunday night and Monday in hospital for monitoring, but it is not believed to be a serious injury.
Stoke City's big summer signing Xherdan Shaqiri, who missed the club's last game before the international break through injury, limped out of Switzerland's final training session ahead of a Euro 2016 qualifier with San Marino and sat out the match. He was able to play the first half of the 1-0 win over Estonia a couple of days later, so he might well be available to face Swansea City. Mark Hughes will certainly hope so anyway.
Stoke City's back up goalkeeper Shay Given, was carried off on a stretcher after injuring his knee taking a goal kick, as the Republic of Ireland faced Germany at the Aviva Stadium.
Outside of the full internationals there was bad news for Liverpool's summer signing Joe Gomez. The young defender suffered a cruciate ligament injury that could rule him out for the rest of the season. After being brought in from Charlton Athletic in the summer, he had started the season as Liverpool's first choice left back, though he had lost his place in recent weeks to Alberto Moreno.
Written by Tris Burke October 15 2015 09:28:29
