From the Premier League's elite to the soggy pitches of Sunday league, injuries are part and parcel of football - but which top-flight teams have been worst affected this season? With help from injury expert Ben Dinnery, of premierinjuries.com, external, BBC Sport examines which sides have been hit the hardest, the impact injuries can have on under-fire managers - and whether things are always as bad as they seem.
Raphinha's importance to Barcelona under Hansi Flick is no longer up for debate. The numbers alone make that clear, but the wider impact he has on the team goes far beyond goals and assists. In just 18 appearances this season, the Brazilian winger has already delivered 11 goals and five assists, which shows his decisive role in Flick's system. His influence was most visible during Barcelona's recent success in the Spanish Super Cup.
The organisers of the Champions Cup are looking to shift the start of the tournament back to October to add extra impetus to the pool stages. This year's competition kicked off in December, but there is collective support from coaches and clubs to commence their campaigns before the packed November Test window. The current structure and calendar slots are technically in place until 2030, but there is growing recognition that a change could be helpful.
Strahinja Pavlovic had to have stitches in his head after a collision with Pietro Comuzzo during Sunday's draw against Fiorentina. It was one of those games where Comuzzo seemed determined to do damage with his head. He scored the opening goal for Fiorentina midway through the second half, nodding in a corner, and then at the other end an aerial duel with Pavlovic ended with them both in a heap on the floor.
The players are due to report on Monday and would only become available again on Thursday, without having taken part in the build-up to the Copa match in the preceding days. As such, if Hansi Flick was planning to give minutes to Torrents and Dro, the club would need to negotiate with the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to secure their release from the youth national team squads.
The second-year tight end was shown on the scoreboard sitting courtside during the game, smiling and waving to the camera. He later reposted a picture taken and posted on social media by a New York Post reporter and responded, "I am not sick." The Giants said that Johnson is dealing with a non-contagious infection, not the flu or COVID, where being around other people would not be a risk.
SAN JOSE San Jose Sharks defenseman John Klingberg has been playing some of his best hockey of the season in recent weeks but now has a lower body injury and is considered doubtful to play against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said Friday that Klingberg's injury cropped up during the Sharks' 4-3 shootout win against the Minnesota Wild, as the veteran defenseman had a team-high 25:46 in ice time.
A ton of stuff during this win streak has been about stacking plays, stacking for our team, just positives of complementary football and finding a way to win by any means necessary every single game. And that's credit to players. That's what they've done. And J.J.'s been a huge part of that, really looking at starts seven, eight, nine, and would love to get him another one. But obviously, only if he's medically cleared and can 100% do his job.
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Chicago Bears continue to deal with an illness that has impacted at least eight players ahead of their Sunday night meeting with the San Francisco 49ers. The Bears added wide receivers DJ Moore and Olamide Zaccheaus to the injury report Sunday morning with an illness and designated both as questionable. The team already ruled out Rome Odunze (foot) for a fourth straight game.
As Lakers coach JJ Redick talked after practice Monday about the long list of his players who would be listed as day-to-day for Tuesday night's game at Phoenix, he at least knew that center Deandre Ayton will be back after missing the previous two games with left elbow soreness. Redick said Luka Doncic (left leg contusion), Austin Reaves (mild left calf strain) and Rui Hachimura (right groin soreness) are day-to-day.
Unai Emery wins 55 per cent of his games with Villa; Ruben Amorim wins 39 per cent of his with United. You can see the gulf between them in the way each has handled his club's brightest young thing. While Emery has made a maestro out of Morgan Rogers, Amorim tends to see Kobbie Mainoo as someone to be spurned or scorned.
Hughes has been injured a lot but it seems to be the same injuries, mainly upper-body and shoulder injuries. As a hockey player, being unable to use his stick is a major issue. With these injuries, Hughes has yet to play a full 82 games going into this seventh NHL season. Most of his injuries have been NHL related, but he has had some odd injuries, including his latest one that saw him slice his hand at a team function. Hughes has played 385 out of a possible 574 games. While he has missed a lot of time he has been productive when he has played, accumulating 151 goals and 220 assists for 371 points.
Larsson, one of the Heat's most important reserves, left Tuesday's game in the second quarter after incidentally stepping on Andrew Wiggins' ankle. The injury occurred after a made basket from Wendell Carter Jr., where Larsson was helped off the court by his teammates. He was unable to put weight on his ankle. Thankfully, for Larsson and the Heat, they will be getting plenty of rest over the next two weeks.
Munster senior coach Mike Prendergast is optimistic that Jack Crowley, Jean Kleyn and Michael Milne will be available for Saturday's historic Champions Cup clash with Gloucester at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Cincinnati Bengals suspended Jermaine Burton for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills in the latest development for the beleaguered wide receiver. The team made the announcement roughly 90 minutes before the scheduled kickoff at Highmark Stadium, a day after they had ruled him out for the game for non-injury reasons. He did not make the trip to Buffalo with the rest of the team. By suspending Burton, he will not receive a game check for the contest.
Luka Doncic was removed from the team's status report entering Sunday's game at Philadelphia after the Lakers superstar and his fiancee announced the birth of their second child Saturday. Doncic missed the last two games, but before Friday's game against Boston, coach JJ Redick was open to the possibility of him rejoining the team in time for Sunday's road trip finale.
Herbert, who underwent surgery on his fractured left (non-throwing) hand Monday after sustaining the break last week against Las Vegas, was listed as questionable against Philadelphia after being limited across three days of practice. The Chargers quarterback was being handed the ball as he aligned under center during practice, with a cast and wrap over his left hand. Herbert appeared to comfortably catch the ball on shotgun snaps during throwing drills Saturday.
* LB Malik Verdon (shoulder) OUT * LG Matthew Bergeron (ankle) * WR KhaDarel Hodge (shoulder) * RG Chris Lindstrom (foot) QUESTIONABLE * EDGE Leonard Floyd (rest) * LT Jake Matthews (rest) * WR Drake London (knee) OUT * DL David Onyemata (rest) * TE Charlie Woerner (rest) * LB Josh Woods (hamstring) OUT * OL Joe Tippmann (personal) * DL Harrison Phillips (foot) QUESTIONABLE * CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (hip) QUESTIONABLE The Falcons
Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo is reportedly set to miss Saturday's La Liga clash with Alaves for Hansi Flick's side. The Uruguay international was sent off in midweek against Chelsea in the Champions League defeat and has not been in full training for the last two days, according to AS. There's no word yet on why Araujo has not been training with the train. AS note that Araujo is also "still very upset" about his red card at Stamford Bridge and claim a break may do him good.
He comes bearing mixed tidings for Liverpool fans ahead of their match against Nottingham Forest at Anfield tomorrow. A quick summary: Alisson has fully recovered from his hamstring injury, but Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong will be out for at least three weeks. Florian Wirtz is also unavailable, while Joe Gomez missed training yesterday but should be OK for today.
