But as the gap shows, Manchester United and Newcastle United have had their worst spells of injury this season. This perhaps explains why both have struggled to establish themselves, sitting sixth and seventh in the Premier League table. There is a big caveat to this, though, with Manchester United and Newcastle among the teams with the most games in all competitions.
And Newcastle have suffered 15 injuries in the same period in 2022-23, one less than last campaign. They had 15.1 injuries per 1,000 minutes last season, but that figure drops to 9.7 injuries per 1,000 minutes in 2023-24. It’s worth noting that muscle injuries are a serious concern, as they appear to be somewhat avoidable, while other knocks are part of playing contact sports. Newcastle have only missed 5 games due to a muscle injury and are in ninth place.
Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United and Crystal Palace have had injury problems. At the other end of the spectrum, West Ham United are considered the healthiest side in the Premier League, with only five injuries keeping players out of the game.
At the start of this season, new rules were implemented which saw more time allowed for more accurate accounting for goals, substitutions, injuries and time-wasting. This has raised concerns that increased playing time could lead to more injuries.
While there is no proven correlation between the total number of injuries and additional minutes played, the injury rate is up overall compared to last season and the four-season average.
His four-time average for injuries at this stage of the campaign is 170 – and is up around 15 per cent from the 196 recorded this season.
This is a 30 percent increase from last season (151). However, before the World Cup, the rate of injuries decreased by 11%, and the gap between games held last season was affected by the postponement of the games following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
A number of players have suffered hamstring injuries in recent weeks. Tottenham Hotspur’s Mickey van de Ven was among them during his side’s 4-1 defeat by Chelsea earlier this month. It seems likely to be a growing problem, and the data backs that up.
Hamstring injuries have increased by an average of 55 percent over four seasons – 53 compared to an average of 34 this season.
This data indicates that injuries, and hamstring injuries in particular, are on the rise – and in addition, changes in the rules have raised concerns. But what does each Premier League club’s injury schedule look like?
Arsenal
Arsenal haven’t been completely hit by the injury crisis but there has been an ominous cloud over them as players knock each week. Ahead of the 3-1 win over Burnley, three players were ruled out for the game, but that number rose to eight when an ‘injury doubt’ was added.
Jurrien Timber (anterior cruciate ligament), Thomas Partey (thigh) and Emil Smith Rowe (knee) were the correct ones. Bukayo Saka, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Eddie Nketiah are the three doubts, while Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus (Eclipse) continue to be absent respectively.
Ben White also missed out due to discomfort during training; This takes Arsenal’s injury tally for the international break to six.
Rock Art
Aston Villa
Villa suffered ACL injuries earlier in the season with Tyrone Mings and Amy Buendia – ruling them out of the campaign – in the space of four days.
Mings suffered the injury in Newcastle’s 5-1 defeat (Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images)
Diego Carlos missed the 3-1 win over Fulham with an undisclosed injury while both continued their careers at Bodimore Heath.
However, Jacob Ramsey will return to first-team training after the international break with a metatarsal injury and Alex Moreno, who has been on the bench in recent weeks, will be hoping to add to the minutes he has not played since May.
Jacob Tanswell
Bournemouth
Andini Irraola’s tactical revolution in the Premier League may require him to find a way to win games without a central midfield. Tyler Adams arrived as the only defensive midfielder in a summer where the club saw wingers and attacking midfielders as Black Friday gatekeepers.
He was sidelined for the much-anticipated game against Stoke City when he picked up a further hamstring injury which kept him out until February or March. Alex Scott’s promising start to life at Dean Court could also be ruled out until the New Year by a sudden rupture of his MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament).
Max Aarons went brilliantly after his win at Newcastle and Philip Billings is also said to have knocked up.
Jeff Rutter
Brentford
Five minutes after coming off the bench in Brentford’s 3-0 win over Fulham at the weekend, Josh DaSilva pulled his leg, sparking an injury crisis at the club.
A month later, Rico Henry tore his ACL against Newcastle and was ruled out for the rest of the season. Mikael Damsgaard undergoes keyhole surgery on knee issue Kevin Schade will need thigh surgery after picking up an injury in the heat following the 3-1 defeat at Everton.
Keane Lewis-Potter was finding his feet in the top flight and then suffered a calf injury. Did we mention that Shandon Baptiste dislocated his shoulder in training?
Just as things are looking up as Ben Mee returns from a hamstring injury, Aaron Hickey has suffered a serious hamstring injury in training and will be out until next year.
It means Brentford must survive the next two months, which include games against Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion and Aston Villa without the undisputed left-back.
Jay Harris
Brighton
Brighton are without 8 players for their game against Sheffield United, including regular left-back Pervis Estupina and the next three options for that position.
Estupinan, Tariq Lamptey and James Milner are all likely to return before Christmas due to various muscle injuries, but Solly March is out for the season with a torn ACL and meniscus injury.
Lewis Dunk has been ruled out of England’s squad due to a groin injury sustained in last week’s win over Ajax. He could return for the next game against Nottingham Forest on November 25.
Three forwards are also missing against Sheffield United: Ivan Ferguson (back), Danny Welbeck (hamstring) and Julio Inchiso (meniscus tear).
Ferguson is short-term but Welbeck and Inciso are unlikely to return before January.
Andy Naylor
Burnley
Burnley’s injury ward is becoming increasingly crowded, but striker Lyle Foster will remain without the club as he seeks mental health treatment away from the game.
Forward Michael Obafemi returned to action against Arsenal for the first time this season after undergoing ligament surgery in the summer. Aaron Ramsey is also back on matchday after a minor muscle problem.
Hjalmar Ekdal (knee) and Manuel Benson (ankle) were both seen stepping up their recoveries for the under-21s earlier this month. They are expected to return after the international break.
Darko Churlinov – who was out with blood poisoning – also featured in the under-21s. After being called up, he could play for North Macedonia during the international break.
Andy Jones
Chelsea
Chelsea’s terrible injury record is a measure of how short the list of players on the medical table is right now.
Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah are sidelined, while Carney Chukwuemeka’s knee injury is taking longer to recover from than first thought. However, at one point this season, Chelsea’s remaining figures doubled.
Chelsea have received a lot of good news of late for a number of players, including captain Reece James.
Reece James’ minutes have been carefully monitored since his return from injury (Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
The club now have high hopes that summer signings Christopher Nkunku and Romeo Lavia will feature for the first time since the international break.
Nkunku suffered a knee injury in the pre-season game against Borussia Dortmund, while Lavia has an ankle problem.
Defender Levi Colwill missed the 4-4 draw with Manchester City with a shoulder injury but was described as ‘minor’.
Simon Johnson
Crystal Palace
Palace’s injury crisis was so severe that manager Roy Hodgson had to write down the names on a piece of paper before the press conference for Palace’s game against Nottingham Forest last month to make sure he didn’t forget anything.
Fortunately for Hodgson, that list has shrunk significantly. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson will be sidelined with a thigh injury sustained in his Carabao Cup debut against Manchester United.
James Tomkins is expected to return after the international break, while Jisurun Raksaki is out of the squad due to injury. Nathan Ferguson played eight minutes of football after signing for Palace in July 2020 despite being sidelined for a long time with his own hamstring problem.
Matt Woosnam
Everton
Club captain Seamus Coleman, who completed more than 60 minutes for the Under-21s, is closing in on a comeback in the recent EFL Cup win over Mansfield Town. The Republic of Ireland international has not played since suffering a hamstring injury against Leicester City in May.
Amadou Onana is nursing a calf injury and was substituted midway through the game at Crystal Palace. Fellow midfielder Andre Gomes has returned to light training after a calf injury but is still a ways off from selection. The same goes for Dele Allim, who is recovering from a long-term groin problem.
Patrick Boyland
Fulham
While the injury woes at Fulham haven’t been serious this season, they have had some nagging problems. With Tosin Adarabio and Issa Diop unavailable, right-sided centre-back has been a problem area of late. Although Diop’s foot injury may keep him out until December, Tosin is now close to returning after a summer injury that required surgery.
Addarabio’s absence spells trouble for Fulham (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Fortunately, other issues have started to clear up. Adama Traore and Kenny Tate have been out since September with muscle and groin problems. But both are back against Aston Villa – with Traore coming off the bench and Tette in the matchday squad.
Striker Rodrigo Muniz suffered a knee injury in the defeat to Manchester United but should be back next month.
Peter Rutzler
Liverpool
A look on the bench in Liverpool’s last Premier League game was enough to show how the damage was starting to bite. Both midfield and defense were depleted – but the positive was that there weren’t too many long-term setbacks.
Andy Robertson’s shoulder injury is the biggest concern and he has not featured this season, with Thiago sidelined until the New Year.
Stefan Bajsetic, Ryan Gravenbirch and Curtis Jones missed the last game but will be assessed before the Premier League returns. Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate will be investigated after being ruled out.
So far this season, Liverpool have managed the team well. But now that the games are coming thick and fast, it’s breakout time.
Greg Evans
Luton City
Luton have more injury risks (eight) than Premier League points (six).
Summer signing Mads Andersen has been sidelined since last month, and it’s a huge loss. Centre-back Rob Edwards, who scored against West Ham United in Luton’s first Premier League game at Kenilworth Road, is out with what he described as a “nasty hamstring injury” and could keep him out until the new year.
Alfie Doughty, who scored in Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat, is among the other absentees. The left-back has been a revelation for Luton. Republic of Ireland winger Chiodizi Ogbene has emerged as an injury risk while out on international duty. The narrow leg is being evaluated.
Defender Amar’e Bale (thigh) and Arsenal loanee Albert Sambi Lokonga are both out with hamstring injuries.
Dan Potts, Cauley Woodrow and Reece Burke are out. Woodrow could be back after the international break but it looks like a longer wait for Potts and Burke.
Caoimhe O’Neill
Manchester City
After starting cleanup a few weeks ago, the Premier League champions are starting to suffer from injury problems. John Stones was easing his way back from a thigh problem, but he suffered it again in the Champions League win over Young Boys.
Go deeper
Pep Guardiola’s replacement options for John Stones’ role – who steps up?
Stones were sorely missed in the 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge, which saw Ederson pick up a foot injury. The goalkeeper who ousted Alisson as his country’s No. 1 has withdrawn from Brazil’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers.
Mateo Kovacic has been sidelined for this international with a hamstring problem and Nathan Ake has withdrawn from the Netherlands squad after missing the trip to Chelsea. Sergio Gomez is still struggling with an ankle problem.
There is at least better news for Kevin De Bruyne, who remains sidelined after picking up a thigh injury on the opening night of the new season at Turf Moor. Pep Guardiola said last week that he was close to returning to training.
Sam Lee
Manchester United
Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Højlud are the latest additions to Erik ten Haag’s long injury list. Both men were sidelined in United’s recent game against Luton Town. Eriksen is out for a month with a knee problem, while Højlund has a muscle strain that could see him back in early December.
Earlier this month, Ten Hag said he did not believe Casemiro (abdominal injury) or Lisandro Martinez (metatarsal problem) would be available before Christmas, and Jonny Evans said he would be out for three to four weeks with an undisclosed injury picked up in the Champions League. .
Luke Shaw could return from long-term injury for United’s game against Everton. Tyrrell Malacia and Amad Diallo are recovering from knee injuries.
Carl the Duck
Newcastle United
It’s almost impossible to describe what it will be like for Newcastle against Chelsea, given how serious their injury crisis is…
Newcastle sit at the top of the table with no team looking to lead, meaning they have one Premier League injury-hit and up to 12 remaining by the end of next week.
Jacob Murphy was the latest Newcastle player to suffer an injury (Ian McNicol/Getty Images)
A shocking 10 of them are sidelined with injuries – Sven Botman (knee), Matt Targett (hip), Dan Byrne (back), Javier Manquillo (hamstring), Elliott Anderson (back), Miguel Almiron (hamstring), Alexander Isaac (groin). Callum Wilson (calf), Harvey Barnes (leg) and Jacob Murphy (shoulder) – Sandro Tonali, who is serving a 10-month ban for gambling on football, and Lewis Hall, signed with the obligation on his first loan. Buying from Chelsea is not eligible to play for his parent club.
Worryingly, only Boatman and Issac look likely to return next weekend – neither is a certainty – most are medium to long-term absences.
Chris Waugh
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest’s already extensive injury woes have eased recently, with only Callum Hudson-Odoi out of training for the game against West Ham. But even he should be back after the international break.
Anthony Ilanga has picked up an undisclosed problem that has ruled him out of Sweden’s squad – and Steve Cooper will be keeping a close eye on other Forest players on international duty.
Nigerian international Taiwo Anyi is still feeling a groin problem but he will be able to play in this game. Felipe has an ongoing knee issue that limits the amount of training he can do, but Cooper believes he is close to being in the game.
Paul Taylor
Sheffield United
Injuries have become such a problem this season – 12 players were absent for Arsenal’s 5-0 hammering last month – that an independent body has been invited to assess what, if anything, could have been done differently.
However, with injuries being a mixture of muscle, contact and accidental incidents – such as Chris Basham’s horrific leg break against Fulham – it is hard to imagine what the breakthrough would be.
Captain John Egan was absent along with Anel Ahmadhodic and Ollie McBurnie, while Rhys Norrington-Davies, Tom Davies, Rhian Brewster and Daniel Jebbison were all out. McBurney should be back at least after the international break.
Richard Sutcliffe
Tottenham Hotspur
In the past few weeks, Spurs have lost James Maddison (ankle) and Mickey van de Ven (muscle) until the new year, while Richarlison is out for a few weeks after surgery to heal a long-standing groin problem.
Maddison’s injury sees Spurs without a key playmaker (Glynn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images)
In addition, Destiny Udogie was not selected for the Italian team to focus on shaking off the muscle problem that forced him to miss the trip to Crystal Palace at the end of October. Spurs are expected to face Aston Villa in their next game.
Before that rash of injuries, the Spurs were largely absent. Ivan Perisic is out for the season (ACL), Manor Salomon is expected to return in January (meniscus), and Ryan Sessegnon (ankle) has not been given time, although Ange Postecoglou called it a “longer” than possible return on October 26 this month. Reserve goalkeeper Alfie Whiteman is expected to be sidelined for some time after undergoing ankle surgery in July.
There is little concern over first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who is suffering from “flu symptoms” while on international duty.
Charlie Eccleshare
West Ham United
Unlike their era, West Ham had no injury concerns heading into the international break. A welcome return to manager David Moyes, who will be hoping his side keep their form – and injury-free – in their league game against Burnley after the break.
Roshan Thomas
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves only have one major injury at the moment – but that’s what they need least of all.
Pedro Neto told TNT Sports on Saturday that he will be back in “three to four weeks” from his head injury. Gary O’Neill will be anxious to avoid any obstacles to NATO recovery to ensure the Portuguese wing is back up to full speed by Christmas and New Year.
Young midfielder Joe Hodge is the only rest (shoulder) but the Ireland under-21 captain is a first-team fringe at Wolves.
Steve Madeley
(Best photos: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images, Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
