No one was sure when or if the Premier League would return after it was suspended in mid-March, and after an absence of more than two months it was announced that sport as a whole can return in June, with the Premier League resuming the 2019/20 season on June 17th.
With the season coming back to play its remaining fixtures more than a month after it was originally scheduled to conclude, there are players who thought their season was over due to injury that have been handed a reprieve due to the temporary suspending of the campaign. We at Grosvenor Sport take a look at some notable names in the Premier League who have recovered from long-term injuries to play a big role in the final nine games of the season.
Harry Kane, Striker, Tottenham
Last Appearance: January 1st, 2020
England captain Harry Kane had been in fine form for club and country prior to suffering a major hamstring injury on the first day of the new year which required surgery, netting 27 goals in 31 appearances for Tottenham and England.
Kane was a potential doubt for Euro 2020 after undergoing hamstring surgery but has returned to Tottenham training in recent weeks. Admittedly, he is short of match fitness like the rest of his teammates. Sitting eighth in the table, Tottenham will be hopeful that Kane can return and help fire them back into Europe for next season.
Leroy Sane, Winger, Manchester City
Last Appearance: August 4th, 2019
The German winger hasn’t been seen on the pitch for City since suffering a knee ligament injury during the Charity Shield clash against Liverpool last August, with fears that he could miss the entire 2019/20 Premier League season as a result.
Having missed six months of action, Sane returned to City training in February and did feature in an U23 fixture prior to the campaign being suspended. Having used the last few months to return to full fitness, Sane remains in City training and could feature when the league returns in two weeks time.
Marcus Rashford, Striker, Manchester United
Last Appearance: January 15th, 2020
One of the leading contenders for the Premier League Golden Boot at the time of his injury, Marcus Rashford netted 14 times in 22 league appearances for Manchester United prior to being sidelined.
Suffering a back injury in United’s FA Cup third round replay victory over Wolves in January, the 22-year-old has been absent ever since and United’s attack has suffered as a result, with the team scoring in just four of seven league games without Rashford since January. Now back in training and nearing full fitness, Rashford should be available for United’s key run-in with a European place at stake.
Jack Wilshere, Midfielder, West Ham
Last Appearance: October 19th, 2019
No stranger to injuries, Jack Wilshere’s West Ham career, like his Arsenal tenure, has largely been spent on the sidelines. His latest injury – a pelvic problem which has required surgery and taken longer to heal – has kept the midfielder out of action since October.
With just 16 appearances for the Hammers to his name since joining on a free transfer in the summer of 2018, Wilshere has been training with the first-team squad and is deemed fully fit for when the Premier League returns as he supports West Ham’s survival challenge.
Paul Pogba, Midfielder, Manchester United
Last Appearance: December 26th, 2019
Ankle injuries have blighted Pogba’s 2019/20 season, having struggled with the injury throughout the Autumn prior to his return to the field in December, but it flared up once again in the Premier League clash with Newcastle and the Frenchman hasn’t been seen since.
Limited to just seven league appearances this campaign, Pogba has used the time off to get himself back to full fitness and is ready to play his part in United’s run-in as they still compete for a Champions League place.
Lucas Torreira, Midfielder, Arsenal
Last Appearance: March 2nd, 2020
Stretchered off in Arsenal’s FA Cup fifth round triumph over Portsmouth, Torreira’s impressive season in the heart of the Gunners’ midfield came to an abrupt halt prior to the season being suspended.
With the Premier League set to resume on June 17th with Arsenal’s clash with Manchester City, Torreira was seen back in training last week as he steps up his rehabilitation.
Christian Pulisic, Winger, Chelsea
Last Appearance: January 1st, 2020
In his first season in English football, Pulisic was just about finding his feet prior to suffering an abductor tear during Chelsea’s New Year’s Day trip to Brighton, halting his debut campaign.
The American had six goals in 23 appearances across all competitions and offered Frank Lampard much-needed diversity in terms of his options in wide areas for Chelsea. The 21-year-old has now returned to training with the rest of the squad ahead of the run-in as Chelsea look to hold onto their Champions League spot.
David Brooks, Winger, Bournemouth
Last Appearance: April 27th, 2019
The talented Welsh winger burst onto the scene with Bournemouth last season, scoring seven goals and providing five assists in 30 Premier League appearances for the Cherries, but a severe ankle injury at the end of the season has laid waste to his 2019/20 campaign.
Having suffered multiple setbacks and undergoing two surgeries to repair his ankle, Brooks hasn’t featured for Bournemouth in over 12 months but is back to full fitness in training and is ready to help aid his team’s survival bid.
Aymeric Laporte, Defender, Manchester City
Last Appearance: February 26th, 2020
Injuries are never too far away from Aymeric Laporte, and Manchester City have had to deal with this the hard way as the Frenchman suffered a severe knee ligament injury during City’s 4-0 thrashing of Brighton in August.
Having initially returned in January, Laporte’s fitness was questioned further and continued to come in and out of the side as he struggled with other ailments, most notably limping off in City’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid back in February – his last appearance for the club. Now back in training, Laporte has used the last three months to get his body back to full fitness as City look to continue their pursuit of a first Champions League crown.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Midfielder, Chelsea
Last Appearance: May 12th, 2019
The promising young England midfielder hasn’t been seen for Chelsea this season after rupturing his achilles tendon in a post-season friendly against New England Revolution last May which forced him to miss the Europa League final victory over Arsenal.
Loftus-Cheek was close to a return to the pitch for the Blues before the season was suspended, having been an unused sub in two of Chelsea’s last three Premier League games, but remains in training with the rest of the squad and is raring to go in two weeks time.
Kieran Tierney, Defender, Arsenal
Last Appearance: December 9th, 2019
Having completed a £25m to Arsenal from Celtic last summer which made him the most expensive Scottish player in football history, Tierney’s debut season at the Emirates has been blighted by injuries, limiting him to just eight appearances and four starts.
Having overcome an early season hip injury which involved a hernia surgery, Tierney has been sidelined since December after suffering a dislocated shoulder in the away win at West Ham. Arsenal have confirmed that the left-back is now in full training and ready to make his first appearance for the club under Mikel Arteta.
Moussa Sissoko, Midfielder, Tottenham
Last Appearance: January 1st, 2020
Having made himself somewhat of a regular in the Tottenham side this season, Sissoko was a big miss in the Spurs midfield after being forced out for over two months after undergoing surgery after picking up an injury against Southampton on New Year’s Day.
Despite returning to training just before lockdown, Sissoko was unable to play in the league for Spurs but is now ready to return when the Premier League returns in two weeks.
Alisson, Goalkeeper, Liverpool
Last Appearance: February 29th, 2020
Alisson has suffered with some injuries during his time at Liverpool, especially this season. After missing nine games across all competitions early in the season after picking up a calf injury during the opening day win against Norwich, Alisson again was forced onto the sidelines with a hip injury sustained in March.
Adrian stepped in to again deputise for Alisson for two games while the Brazilian was out, including the 3-2 extra-time defeat at home to Atletico Madrid which dumped Liverpool out of the Champions League. As teams returned to training in recent weeks, so did Alisson and the stopper is expected to retake his place between the sticks once the Premier League returns.
John McGinn, Midfielder, Aston Villa
Last Appearance: December 21st, 2019
Despite Aston Villa’s struggles this season, John McGinn was one of their shining lights alongside Jack Grealish, scoring three goals and providing two assists in 18 Premier League appearances.
McGinn suffered a severe ankle ligament injury in the 3-1 defeat at home against Southampton back in December and hasn’t been seen since. Sorely missed by Dean Smith, McGinn is back in training ahead of the Premier League’s return later this month.
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Which of these players do you think will play the biggest role for their clubs during the final nine games of the Premier League season? Let us know in the comments below.
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