All clubs have had them and we’ve all cursed with frustration at seeing them spend more time on the treatment table than the pitch.
Which players make the all time sicknote top 10?
Supporters of Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Leeds United and Manchester United know all about injury-prone players.
Of all the sides of the Premier League era those teams seem to have suffered more than most.
They certainly had a large share of the top 10 biggest sicknotes between them.
But who is the worst, you decide…
Kieron Dyer in his Newcastle days
Kieron Dyer
The writing was on the wall for former Ipswich Town, Newcastle United and West Ham midfielder Dyer from the very beginning.
Dyer overcame a broken leg to enjoy a good start to his career at Ipswich but a career dogged by injury began at Newcastle where he struggled with persistent hamstring problems. In 2007 he joined West Ham for £6 million and promptly broke his leg on his second appearance. Dyer made just 328 appearances in a career spanning 17 years, scoring 34 goals.
Jamie Redknapp has managed to steer clear of injury working for Sky Sports
Jamie Redknapp
The former Liverpool, Spurs and Southampton midfielder was widely recognised as a quality player but knee injuries plagued Redknapp throughout his career and forced him to hang up his boots aged 32.
Redknapp made just 314 career appearances in career lasting 16 years and like Dyer netted 34 goals in that time.
Ask any Liverpool fan about Harry Kewell’s injury record. Actually don’it it just winds them up
Harry Kewell
The poster boy of Leeds United’s emergence as Champions League contenders, Kewell is regarded as Australia’s finest ever footballer.
But he is perhaps just as well remembered for his injury record. After his big move to Liverpool Kewell seemed cursed and was often accused of not being tough enough. Injuries remained with him at Galatasaray and Melbourne Rebels as he ended his career with 90 goals from 381 appearances.
He’ll probably end up with the goal of the season but Andy Carroll barely plays
Andy Carroll
If you want to gauge the frustration caused by big Andy Carroll’s persistent injury problems speak to any Newcastle, Liverpool or West Ham fan.
A fully fit and firing Carroll is one of the best strikers in the Premier League and strikes fear into opposition defences with his all action blood and thunder style and aerial dominance.
But the England striker spends far too much time injured – he has had four separate injuries this season restricting him to just 17 appearances – and at 28-years-old has clocked up only 232 games and 68 goals since making his professional debut in 12 years ago in 2006.
Sturridge has chronic problems… with injury not his dance moves
Daniel Sturridge
What is it about Liverpool and injuries? Sturridge has taken the role of sicknote to another level over the last three seasons at Anfield. The classy star has played only 41 league games in that time and only 180 league games since his professional debut 12 years ago in 2006. He knows where the goal is, though, scoring 97 in all competitions from 254 career matches.
Everyone wishes Michael Owen was still playing, so we didn’t have to listen to his punditry
Michael Owen
No seriously what is it about Liverpool players… but in Michael Owen’s case his injury-laden career impacted their bitter rivals Manchester United as well as Newcastle and Stoke City. Ironically he steered clear of injuries during the couple of years he spent in La Liga with Real Madrid where he was often consigned to a bench role. Owen made just 362 appearances for his clubs in 17 years although he did weigh in with 163 goals.
Jonathan Woodgate was class but made of glass
Jonathan Woodgate
Woodgate has to be one of the unluckiest men in football, just ask fans of Leeds, Newcastle, Tottenham, Stoke and Middlesbrough. Injuries blighted his time at Real Madrid, as he failed to make a single appearance during the entire 2004-05 season. It was a similar story at Tottenham where, after a promising 2008-09 season, he made just four appearances in the next two. In 18 years he played just 383 games and scored 10 goals.
Anderton was the original ‘sicknote’
Darren Anderton
The original ‘sicknote’ Anderton was best known for his time with Spurs. The England midfielder had wonderful technical ability but struggled thoughout his career with Achilles, knee, calf, groin, back and hamstring problems. Anderton managed 471 games and 57 goals in a career spanning 18 years which also saw him play for first club Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Birmingham and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Ledley King was one of the best defenders in the Premier League, even on one leg
Ledley King
Another Tottenham star who saw his career spoiled by injury was defender and Spurs captain Ledley King. His chronic knee problems not only limited his playing time but also stopped him being able to train for much of his career.
The one club man made just 268 appearances for Spurs scoring 10 goals before retiring in 2012 aged just 32. That did not stop him being named Tottenham’s 25th best player of all time and he is widely regarded as one of the finest centre backs of his generation.
Owen Hargreaves had the shortest career but won just about everything during it
Owen Hargreaves
The Canadian-born Englishman shot to prominence at German giants Bayern Munich as a tigerish midfield enforcer. Hargreaves’ injury problems were so bad he only actually played professionally for 11 years. They were trophy-laden, though… after seven years with the Munich side – during which time he won four German league titles and the 2000–01 Champions League – Hargreaves signed for Manchester United in 2007, winning the Premier League and Champions League in his first season. But his time at Manchester United was plagued with injuries and he was allowed to leave the club at the end of his contract in June 2011. Hargreaves posted YouTube videos in a bid to convince potential suitors of his fitness, and in August 2011, Manchester City offered a one-year contract to Hargreaves, which he accepted. He made just one league appearance, but his presence did not do City any harm as they won the Premier League title.
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