What interests me - is the timing of the injuries - they all seem to go away for a short period of time and then 'BAM!' pop up all at onces like London buses. Ligament damage is not exactly a brand new idea - in the late 90's and early turn of the century Brazilian legend Ronaldo went on to pick up some horrific knee-injuries that were widely predicted to end a marvelous career before it had even started.
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| The amount of pain suffered from such an injury is evident on the Brazilian's face. |
Without being a sports-science genius (I struggled in BTEC-The Body In Sport!) the ligaments - along with their friends: the tendons - are a huge part of how the muscles and joints operate, they are very, very sensitive and with one innocuous, false move that could be your lot for 6 months minimum (as the above have found recently).
A quick delve into footballing injuries though - and speaking to Grandparents! - 'ligement' frailties are moving along with the times - modern technology allows doctors and physios a more in-depth look at any part of the body. Was this why 'real, hard footballers' of the 60's, 70's and 80's only ever suffered from broken bones? The human body doesn't change of course - so perhaps these injuries existed - but just weren't recognised and therefore could not be acted upon. The 'hard' description of a more golden era English footballer would cite them soldiering on through the mud with such injuries as this along with broken bones!
We could here - open all a whole new argument of the modern football being far too pampered and protected, of course times have changed - players now have nutritous diets to help with there fitness, regular sessions in the gym and countless drab one-to-one sessions with physios more than likely on a daily basis. However, no one can be prepared for the un-prepareable - Stamford Bridge witnessed a resurgent Liverpool side, led by midfielder Lucas who seems on a new lease of life - suffer a heart-mellowing cruciate knee ligament injury after a 'nothing' challenge on Juan Mata. The innocence of the fall, the slight bend of the knee was all it took to halt the Brazilian in his tracks and keep hi sidelines for the next 6 months.
Quite similarly - West Brom's returning talismanic Hungarian Zoltan Gera was appearing in his first starts for the Baggies since his return to The Hawthorns - impressing in the odd substitute appearence - his first run out from the start against Tottenham, helping the side take a shock early lead against high flyers Spurs - before horrifically rupturing his anterior cruciate knee ligament, like Lucas, will be missing for the next 6-9 months. For many, it is perhaps the shocking nature at just how easily these injuries come about - it cannot be controlled - todays players are more than healthy, at the peak of physical fitness, it can be such a body blow that what is seen as a minor challenge can be so physically and mentally breaking for the vastly unfortunate receiver.
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| Albion cult-hero was hit by the chronic injury just 21 minutes into his full WBA return. |
The likes of Lucas and Javier Hernandez very much have time on their side, being 24 and 23 respectively they have not even reached the peak of their footballing years - it is all the more serious for veterens like Gera though who, at the age of 32 has now found out that perhaps half of his returning 2 year stint with the club he has such a passionate affair with - will now be spend in the physio room - all such momentum lost. The will power to recover from a set-back, at that stage of any career would be phenominal.
Many of the well-natured football fans of our day can sense a career-threatening injury - the image of a hero being stretchered off whilst attached to a breathing assistant - is that of terrible morbidness. Opposition fans are often found joining in with the standing ovation, they know what it is like losing one of their men for such a period, getting so much pain over something you love doing so much is a recognised feeling and one shared by all.
Unfortunately, football is not a non-contact sport, accidents do happen and when they come around - these stars have to show their willpower and sticking ability to recovering and returning to where they were on the field. There will, doubtless be numerous further agonising injuries occuring today as I write - over the weeks, over the months. Players do recover, look at Ronaldo earlier - there are the unfortunate ones however, whose bodies just couldn't get them over the finishing line.
I'm sure as a fan of our game, you will join with me and wish Lucas, Gera and Hernandez a speedy recovery as the ever delicate yet agonising painful image of a ligament injury is one not welcome in football.
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