Lack of winter break leads to more injuries

The lack of a winter break in English football has once again been called into question, as a study has now confirmed that English teams are more prone than their counterparts to losing players from injury at the turn of the year.

Fourteen leagues across Europe take on average a 10 day winter break every season, with the notable exception of the English leagues.

It has now been revealed that due to this lack of a mid season rest, English squads lose on average 303 more days per season to injury than days lost by European competitors.

Conducted by 'Football Research Group' in Sweden, the study concludes that teams without a winter break had 2.1 more severe injuries per season and a "higher injury burden, both before and during the two periods following the time that many European teams take a winter break".

The Study supports the Premier League and FA's decision to implement a winter break from next season, and also found that in doing so was not associated with higher training attendance or match availability. 

From 2019-20, all Premier League clubs will have a staggered winter break that will guarantee all 20 clubs at least a 13 day rest period in late January and early February, with two rounds of five matches to take place across two weekends.