Introduction: The Unavoidable Reality of Injuries in Football
In the fast-paced world of professional football, injuries are an inevitable part of the game. From the Premier League's elite to the lower leagues, players are constantly at risk of picking up niggles or serious injuries. But which teams have been hit the hardest this season, and what impact is it having on their performance and managerial futures?
Which Teams Have Been Most Affected by Injuries?
Using data from Premier Injuries, we can analyze which teams have lost the most days to injury and which have had the highest number of separate injuries ruling players out of at least one league match.
Tottenham Hotspur: A Struggle with Fitness
Tottenham Hotspur are among the Premier League's worst-hit sides this season. The club has had 19 separate injuries in total – the joint-most of any club alongside Arsenal, Chelsea, and Leeds United. Additionally, Spurs have lost the second-most number of days to injury, behind only Newcastle United.
Head coach Thomas Frank is currently missing seven first-team players because of injury, including Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison, who are both yet to feature in the 2025-26 season. While Frank has faced pressure for a pragmatic style of play, injuries in attack have undoubtedly contributed to the team's struggles.
It's worth noting, however, that Frank has not faced as many fitness problems as his predecessor, Ange Postecoglou, did at this stage of last season. After 22 match rounds in 2024-25, Tottenham had already amassed 25 separate injuries and lost 707 days to injury – both comfortably the highest tallies of any club at that time.
Newcastle United: Leading in Days Lost
Newcastle United have lost the most days of any club to injury this season. While 88 days were down to new signing Yoane Wissa's knee injury picked up on international duty in September prior to making his club debut, the Magpies' squad has subsequently been stretched as they continue to compete on four fronts.
This has affected their away form in particular, with Eddie Howe's side winning just twice on the road in the league this season.
Arsenal, Chelsea, and Leeds United: High Injury Counts
Leaders Arsenal have also been among the biggest victims of the amount of days lost to injury and the total number of injuries. However, their squad depth has managed to mitigate much of the impact – the Gunners are top of both the domestic standings and the Champions League group phase.
Chelsea and Leeds United share the joint-highest number of separate injuries with Tottenham and Arsenal, highlighting the widespread nature of fitness issues this season.
Fewer Injuries, But More Serious Ones?
Collectively, England's top flight has lost 2,157 days fewer to injury compared to the same stage last season. However, the severity of certain common injuries appears to be increasing when examining data across a whole season.
Hamstring Injuries: A Growing Concern
According to Premier Injuries, occurrences of hamstring injuries dropped by 23% in 2024-25, but 60% of those injuries required a minimum of 30 days to recover – the highest ratio since they began recording such data in 2010.
This suggests that while players may be avoiding injuries altogether, when they do occur, they are often more severe and require longer recovery times.
Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite: A Season Lost
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is an example of this trend, being yet to play in 2025-26 because of a hamstring injury sustained in pre-season. Such injuries can have a significant impact on a team's defensive stability and overall performance.
The Impact of Injuries on Managers and Teams
Injuries don't just affect a team's on-pitch performance; they can also put pressure on managers and influence their tactical decisions.
Thomas Frank's Pragmatic Approach
At Tottenham, Thomas Frank's pragmatic style of play has come under scrutiny, partly due to the lack of attacking options caused by injuries. The absence of key players like Kulusevski and Maddison has forced Frank to adapt his tactics, potentially leading to a more defensive approach.
Eddie Howe's Challenges at Newcastle
Similarly, Eddie Howe at Newcastle United has faced challenges in managing his squad while competing on multiple fronts. The injuries have stretched his resources, particularly affecting the team's away form and ability to maintain consistency across competitions.
Arsenal's Managerial Resilience
In contrast, Arsenal's manager has shown resilience in managing a side that has also been hit hard by injuries. The Gunners' squad depth has allowed them to maintain their position at the top of the table, demonstrating the importance of having quality players across the squad, not just in the first team.
Conclusion: Injuries – An Unavoidable Part of the Game
Injuries will always be a part of football, but their impact can be mitigated through careful management, robust training regimes, and having sufficient squad depth. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how teams like Tottenham, Newcastle, and Leeds United cope with their injury problems and whether they can recover their form.
For managers like Thomas Frank and Eddie Howe, the challenge will be to navigate these difficulties while maintaining team morale and ensuring their sides remain competitive across all fronts. Only time will tell whether their tactical adaptability and leadership will be enough to overcome the significant obstacles posed by injuries this season.
