Medical insider: West Brom braced for deluge of injuries as cost-cutting details emerge
West Brom may be set for a deluge of injuries if they scale back their use of artificial lighting rigs for pitch regrowth.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis.
Most teams in Europe’s top leagues, including the Championship, use artificial sunlight lamps to help repair their playing during the winter months.
But the Daily Mail reported last Friday (30 September) that second-tier clubs will reduce the use of the lighting rigs in an attempt to curb soaring electricity bills.
It is understood that ground staff throughout the division are worried about the effect this will have on their pitches.
Dinnery shares their concerns.
“There is a lot of research going into pitches,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“Pitch hardness is a major factor. During winter, we are going to see less grass growth because there’s less light. Pitches can cut up as a result. Research indicates that pitches that are harder have more of an impact on joint and tendon issues.
“Softer pitches, which is where we’re getting to during this heavy period of rain, can have more of an impact on ligaments.
“There are also other bits of research that show how the hardness of a pitch can impact how tired players become when they get around the pitch. That leads to fatigue and can change the profile of a game as well as how teams are set up.
“All of these tweaks can increase injury occurrence.“
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