The most injury prone Premier League players of the 21st century, including Daniel Sturridge and Jack Wilshere
SunSport runs down a handful of the most infuriating players on the planet, with Ledley King, Abou Diaby and Co
THE past two years have been a real mixed bag for Daniel Sturridge.
After all, how many times were we graced with the headline: "Daniel Sturridge injured... again"?
The England man came back strongly in 2016, but for months, Reds fans everywhere — already exasperated by his never-ending injury saga — were left slumped over with heads in hands, muttering: “Really?!”
Studge may be a phenomenally gifted footballer, but he runs the risk of becoming yet another player known more for his treatment-table antics than his on-pitch exploits.
With that in mind, SunSport runs down the most notoriously crocked stars of the Premier League this century.
DANIEL STURRIDGE
LET’S start with the man of the moment.
At Liverpool alone, and bear in mind he only joined the club in January 2013, he’s missed a massive 60 games.
Sixty matches. In under three years.
Now let’s compare it to how many league games he’s actually played.
Well, that’s 60 too. Yes, almost as unbelievable as his injury record, Studge has missed as many games for the Anfield side as he has played in the Premier League.
As the star striker in the Reds’ ranks, it’s no wonder fans everywhere are more than a little miffed...
JACK WILSHERE
THE Arsenal lad is a shoe-in for this list.
Wilshere has racked up an unbelieveable amount of injuries totalling 132 matches and 767 days in his young career.
That’s over two years of treatment table time and he’s only 23-years-old.
Either way it’s prompted concerns that he may never live up to his obvious potential.
An injury-free year would be just what the doctor ordered for England ahead of next summer’s Euros...
OWEN HARGREAVES
MANY remember the former Bayern Munich man as one of England’s stand-out performers in the 2002 World Cup.
Others may recall he only featured 39 times for Manchester United in four seasons — and still managed to bag a Champions League winners medal AND a Premier League winners medal.
Obviously a talented player, he was never on the pitch long enough to prove it — sitting on the sidelines for 1,179 days — and even resorted to YouTube vidoes in an attempt to prove his fitness to potential suitors.
It landed him a deal with Manchester City — but four games later, it was curtains... again.
ABOU DIABY
THE French midfielder actually managed to play 125 times for Arsenal in the league.
Not bad, eh?
Well, he was at the club for NINE seasons. So he averaged just 14 games per year. Suddenly, not so good.
Diaby suffered nearly 40 separate injuries during his time at the Emirates — some lasting a year at a time.
Eventually Arsene Wenger waved goodbye to his physio’s favourite customer with a mix of regret and relief after a whopping 2,156 days on the treatment table.
Are you listening, Jack Wilshere?
LEDLEY KING
PAINFUL memories for England fans. Painful memories for Tottenham fans.
Ledley, if fit, could arguably have gone on to be England’s greatest ever centre-back.
Some argue on his day he already was.
His career was cut short far too soon by a chronic knee injury, limiting his training time and on-field playing chances.
Eventually, King called it quits in 2012 after 1,318 days on the sidelines in agony.
Well, we’ll always have: “Oh Ledley, Ledley / He’s only got one knee / He’s better than John Terry / Oh Ledley, Ledley.”
THEO WALCOTT
ANYONE noticing a theme here? Yes, it’s yet another Arsenal player!
This time it’s Walcott getting the nod with a staggering 1,030 days out crocked.
And he’s only 26-years-old.
The England forward is back from injury — for now — and England fans will hope it stays that way for the summer jaunt to France.
I wouldn’t hold your breath...