Newcastle United have confirmed the appointment of a new senior physiotherapist in the midst of an ongoing injury problem.
Newcastle United’s head coach, Eddie Howe, maintains the team is constantly looking forward, but warns that development may take longer than planned.
In just one season, Newcastle went from relegation to Champions League contention. This season’s rapid growth has been significantly hampered by chronic injury difficulties and an early exit from the Champions League.
Newcastle’s new senior physio, Jonny King, was appointed earlier this month. King previously worked under Howe at AFC Bournemouth and will join from Championship team Leicester City.
He replaces Danny Murphy, whose departure was announced by the club last month.
Newcastle has recently experienced a huge injury problem, with 21 players missing matches due to injury, illness, or suspension. Only six Newcastle players have appeared in 20 or more league games this season, out of a possible 24.
Fabian Schar and Miguel Almiron are the only two players who have appeared in every game thus far, but Kieran Trippier, Sean Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes, and Anthony Gordon have been nearly constant in the matchday squads.
Newcastle are still dealing with a number of injuries, including Callum Wilson, Jacob Murphy, Alexander Isak, Joe Willock, and Elliot Anderson. Matt Targett, Nick Pope, and Joelinton are all healing from their various injuries.
And Howe is hoping that the appointment of a new senior physio will assist, after admitting that’mistakes’ were made in handling various injuries this season.
“We’re always trying to find ways to improve what we do,” he said. “That process will never change, whether it’s playing style or playing personnel; we’re constantly looking to bring the club forward, and [a new physio] will help with that.
The Newcastle manager went on to say, “Of course, with the number of injuries we’ve had, some of them have been caused by overtraining or because our gym programs aren’t good enough.
“The players are extremely hardworking. They don’t simply train on the pitch; they also perform a lot of gym work and other activities. If we are sitting here pretending we have made no mistakes, I believe we are fools.
“Of course, we analyse everything. So when I say we are, I mean everyone from the football club. There is no person, no separate department; we are all in this together. Of course, we must look into it, respond, and improve.”
Despite all of Newcastle’s problems this season, the team is still seventh in the Premier League table and has advanced to the FA Cup last-16; European football qualification remains a feasible aim.
However, Howe believes the club must catch up with the team’s progress on the pitch. “We are on our way, but we are trying to improve everything internally as well,” Howe continued. “You don’t just get there, you have to build, and that takes time.
“For starters, the infrastructure, the training site, we’re attempting to stay up with the team’s pace of improvement. Financial Fair Play will limit our speed [on the pitch], so I believe it will take longer than three or four years. It may take longer than that for us to become the team that everyone wants us to be.”
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