Injury Trends

In July 2019, I wrote about how Rodgers management legacy included an ever-increasing injury rate at Liverpool and the same trend was being seen at Celtic. You can read the rather superb piece here – Exposed: The Rodger’s Injury Legacy.

I was obviously going through a tabloid phase.

The Rodger’s Reckoning

Two years out we can assess the full picture of how Celtic’s injury record increased under Rodgers.

The increase over his reign was significant to the extent that under Deila an average of just over 3 players were missing per match whilst under Rodgers that peaked to 6.63.

Under Lennon, player injuries are trending back to how they were under Deila. And that is despite last season having a never-ending stream of COVID related absences.

It has been suggested that under Rodgers there was a more data driven and analytical approach, with an uplift in professionalism regarding the football support departments. If that is so then how come the injuries increased so much? Surely improvements in Sports Science, Conditioning and Fitness would compensate for a playing style that was higher tempo and more pressing orientated?

Also, under Rodgers, with success in the cups, and visits to the Europa League Last 16, the number of games was greater – 59, 61, and 63 compared to 53 in each of the last two (COVID restricted) seasons.

What Next?

The trend is at least one of reducing injuries. This is no compensation to Postecoglou as he continues to be without Jullien, and nurses Forrest back to full fitness. Johnston and Dembele have reduced further attacking options with preseason injury.

Postecoglou is known to favour a high pressing game too, and for his teams to be relentless in their movement when attacking. Will we see another up turn in injury? Or will McKay’s promised “modernisation” include an overhaul of the medical departments?

Many questions but the last thing Postecoglou needs is further injury bad news as he rebuilds a neglected squad.

I’ll continue to track.