Liverpool news: Medical expert salutes imminent new appointment – ‘It’s long overdue’
Liverpool have a duty of care for current and former stars and should welcome news that the PFA is set to hire a neurodegenerative expert.
That is the view of injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
The Daily Mail reported last Friday (8 April) that the PFA are set to hire a neurodegenerative specialist to head up a new department.
The appointee will work with dementia campaigners and family liaison officers to support ex-players suffering with neurodegenerative diseases.
Liverpool legend Terry McDermott, 70, was diagnosed with dementia last August.
In a statement relayed by the club, the three-time European Cup-winner called the number of ex-pros diagnosed with dementia “frightening”.
Dinnery hailed the PFA’s move, which he says is “long overdue”.
“Any opportunity to oversee this is positive,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“For a long time, people just seemed to be paying lip service. We’ve got the data and there have been various studies, but who is really leading this?
“Clubs have a duty of care and need to have an understanding of the potential impact.
“There is advice and guidance around heading but there are no hard and fast rules. It’s just guidance.
“Any clarity or insight, particularly from those who have been in the game, can only be a good move and it’s long overdue.
“If it helps to guide protocol and protect players from these types of diseases in the future. It needs to be delivered correctly and that needs to filter down.”
Studies have found that repeated heading can alter the brain’s blood structure.
New guidelines surrounding heading in training have been introduced but are not enforced.
In other news, expert offers Mohamed Salah “guarantee” after confirmed Liverpool news.