Expert issues ‘huge’ claim as Nottingham Forest agree Simon Murphy deal – ‘this is make or break’
The performance of new head physio Simon Murphy could be “make or break” for Nottingham Forest in 2022-23.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis.
As relayed by Training Ground Guru last Sunday (10 July), Murphy has left his post as a senior physio at Arsenal to join Forest in a higher-ranking capacity.
Murphy, who was previously head physio at Leicester City, joins the newly-promoted side after a year with the Gunners.
Dinnery explained the “huge” pressure Murphy will be under in his new more senior role and why his output could be key for Forest in their first top-flight campaign in over 20 years.
“In terms of his role, he is going from senior to head physio,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“Responsibility for that team now falls on his shoulders. We all know the importance of availability. It’s all about overseeing strength and conditioning programmes and assessment programmes.
“Forest aren’t blessed with the budget of someone like Arsenal. Therefore, you need to retain the nucleus of your side if you are really going to have any chance of surviving relegation. That’s make or break.
“The pressures on Murphy are going to be huge. The budgetary disparity is going to present itself in the size of your staff and the people you’re working with.
“That may put further demands on your time and what you need to contribute to the club. However, medical departments do tend to swell when going from the Championship to the top flight, so that could ease some of the burden there.
“But in terms of the games, we know the Championship has those additional fixtures. But this season, there is the World Cup with extra fixtures shoehorned in.
“Last season was an exception with Arsenal, but Murphy will be used to a busy fixture schedule. A lot of emphasis will be put on recruitment and getting guys in who can play two or three times a week.”
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