Medical expert: Adam Webster ‘really struggling’ after latest Brighton news
Adam Webster’s injury issues at Brighton may stem from all the way back to the two-and-a-half weeks he missed in pre-season.
That is the view of injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
Webster is currently sidelined with a groin complaint and has not featured in any of Brighton’s last three matches.
It is the 27-year-old centre-back’s third spell on the sidelines with a muscle injury this season.
As quoted by The Athletic last Thursday (3 March), Seagulls boss Graham Potter admitted Webster would likely return after the “international break”.
Dinnery suggests that the defender’s persistent problems this term probably go all the way back to his brief absence in pre-season ahead of 2021-22.
“He had five or six weeks out with a hamstring injury earlier this season,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“That was followed up by the calf problem in December. But he also missed about two-and-a-half weeks in pre-season.
“It’s not a massive amount of time, but that block of training really forms the cornerstone of protecting them and getting them ready.
“When the games are coming thick and fast, all of those sessions in pre-season pay off. That may be why he is really struggling this season.
“The research tells us that the more sessions you can have in pre-season, the more robust you are throughout the course of the season.
“When you’re picking up knocks and niggles, it can be frustrating, especially when you want to get back and help the team when they’re struggling.
“He missed out against Newcastle but I don’t expect him to be out too much longer after that.”
Webster has scored three times in 17 appearances across all competitions this term.
Brighton have lost four games on the spin and are down to 13th in the Premier League.
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