Medical insider on ‘magic bullet’ for Liverpool injury crisis as new hires imminent
A new club doctor would not be a “magic bullet” and solve the injury issues at Liverpool.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis.
The club do not have a permanent club doctor and have had problems with injuries all season with Luis Diaz, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Naby Keita, Joel Matip, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arthur Melo and Curtis Jones all currently unavailable.
David Ornstein revealed on The Athletic Football Podcast this week (10 October) that there will be “more appointments” to the medical staff “at some point”.
Asked whether a club doctor would help ease their injury issues, Dinnery told Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley: “That would be an easy assumption to make.
“As with everything, you need to contextualise. There are a lot of influencing factors when it comes to injuries.
“Predominantly the medical team are reactionary in what they do. If someone picks up an injury, the club doctor gets to work.
“For the most part, they are not involved in training loads and what happens with the players away from them. You need to consider that as an aspect.
“Players only spend a small percentage of time at the club on a day-to-day basis. There are factors like their lifestyle, diet, sleep and general health. At the top level, you cannot afford to leave any stone unturned.
“A permanent club doctor would give a continuity of service, that knowledge of the players, the club and how to manage players. There is that aspect of it. There would be a benfit.
“I don’t see it as pivotal. I don’t see it as a magic bullet that would reduce the number of injury incidents.
“It would help to get someone permanent but ultimately it’s about getting the right person in place to deliver what you want.
“What you want is availability and the players to be fit and be able to handle the demands of the game.
“If players are picking up injuries you want those players back quicker and stronger than they were before.”
In other news, a finance guru has revealed Liverpool are being held to ransom as an “English tax” is analysed.