11 Players who need to work on their fitness this season

Football is nothing if not a game of fitness. A lot of how a team fairs in a season depends on the fitness levels of players and how they manage to remain injury-free. Every season we see players breaking down because of their lack of fitness levels.Injury could be devastating to the fortunes of player and club alike. While some teams suffer a lot because of injuries to their key players, some players need to work on their fitness levels in an effort to save their crumbling careers.Here are 11 such players who need to work on their fitness levels this season in no particular order.

#1 Victor Valdes

After having suffered a terrible anterior cruciate ligament tear in March 2014, Victor Valdes was out for over 7 months and has only recently returned t match fitness. It was a rather sad way for him to run down his contract at Barcelona, but was finally snapped up by Manchester United in the 2014-15 season’s January window.

In October, 2014, United offered Valdes the opportunity to finish his rehabilitation and once fit, he was offered an 18-month contract with an optional 1 year extension.

Valdes will be a backup to David de Gea, but still has to put in the hard hours to work on his fitness. It is never easy to come back from a 7-8 month layoff, but quality facilities at Old Trafford will help in this regard.

Valdes may get some playing time in the cup games, with rumours suggesting that he might start against Cambridge United on 23rd January.

#2 Philipp Lahm

Just over 2 months back, Phillipp Lahm had fractured his ankle in November. With a return date scheduled for 3 months from then, Lahm seems to be making good recovery. According to a Bayern Munich statement, Lahm had his splint and crutches removed and is now capable of starting rehabilitation activities in preparation for his return to the first team.

Captain Lahm is pivotal to the way Bayern as been playing under Pep Guardiola, with his versatility providing the mobility in transitions between the defenders and midfielders.

Lahm is currently right on schedule to make his comeback before the beginning of March. A stretch of 4 fixtures in 10 days against Braunschweig, Hannover, Shakhtar Donetsk and Werder Bremen will await him and one would hope that he can make it through this phase.

Lahm had recently announced that he will hang up his boots at the end of his contract in 2018 and would want to remain as injury free as possible till then.

#3 Sergio Aguero

The prolific Argentine striker signed for Manchester City in 2011 and helped them in their bid to glory. Aguero has been sensational for the Blues from Manchester, and it was his goals that saw them lifting the Premiership trophy twice in 3 seasons.

However, Aguero has come with a large number of injuries in his package deal. Since his arrival at the club over 3 seasons back, Aguero has suffered an astonishing 18 injuries with his hamstring being the most troublesome culprit.

Manchester City has often looked a little out of sorts when they have to take the field without their talismanic striker. He has individually won them many games, and so it takes a toll on the team’s output when he is sidelined as often as he is.

With a tight battle against Chelsea at the top of the table, Manchester City supporters will be hoping that the lethal Sergio Kun Aguero can leave his injuries behind and work on his fitness as much as his on the field skills.

#4 Jack Wilshere

If there is one thing Jack Wilshere is known for apart from being another hyped young British player, it is for his injuries. Arsenal as a club is no stranger to injuries, but Wilshere has to be one of the most troubling cases in current times (no offence to Abou Diaby).

Problems mainly started for Wilshere when he suffered an ankle fracture in 2011-12 which kept him out for an entire season. Since then, Wilshere has been making rounds between the football pitch and the hospital.

Wilshere has suffered a staggering 20+ injuries in his career so far and has to get a grip on his fitness. Just this season, Wilshere has suffered 5 injuries and we are just half way through.

With patience running out amongst the fan base as to the quality of Wilshere, it is all the more important for him to step up and put in good performances on the pitch. But for that, he has to remain fit.

#5 Kevin Strootman

Kevin Strootman, the Dutch central midfielder was the victim of a terrible cruciate ligament injury in March, 2014. He was ruled out of the game for 9 months and only made his return to the AS Roma side in November.

The injury forced Strootman to miss as many as 30 matches for Roma and also the showpiece event of the World Cup which was held in Brazil.

Strootman was eased back into the Roma side after his recovery with a few substitute appearances in November. He was given his first start since the injury only in December in the 2-2 encounter against Sassuolo.

The reported Manchester United target doesn’t really have a history of bad injuries like in the case of Jack Wilshere, but would still have to be careful because 9 months out of the game is a big thing.

Whether he ends up at Manchester United or continues plying his trade at AS Roma, Strootman is an important player and would like to remain injury free.

#6 Daniel Sturridge

Having not been given playing time at Chelsea, Daniel Sturridge made the move to Liverpool and almost got them the Premiership trophy for the first time. His magical partnership with Luis Suarez, with Raheem Sterling for support, was the highlight of Liverpool’s last season and saw Sturridge becoming a key player.

But since the departure of the Uruguayan Suarez to Barcelona, Sturridge could not keep up the same form. It has not helped him or his club that he has been injured for the better part of the season; incurring thigh and calf injuries.

Sturridge hasn’t started a game for Liverpool since August and it is quite evident by their current league position that they are feeling the heat. New signings Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert have barely made an impact to replicate anything from the SAS partnership, and Sterling has to take majority of the onus upon him.

With talks of Sturridge making a comeback this month, Liverpool will be looking towards their key man to make a difference and turn the tables on a rather lacklustre season. Sturridge himself too would like to prove his mettle without Suarez, and also forge a partnership with Balotelli.

#7 Luke Shaw

Luke Shaw after putting in splendid performances at Southampton last season, was transferred to Manchester United to play under new boss Louis van Gaal. With the price tag attached to such a young player (talented no doubt), a lot was expected from Shaw.

However, a series of injuries has kept Shaw sidelined from action quite often and it has not done well for his start at a new club. Louis van Gaal himself said at the start f the season that Shaw would have to work on his fitness a lot more to warrant a starting spot in his side.

With hamstring issues and a couple of ankle injuries, Shaw has seen the promise of playing time only to be sidelined due to injury again. He would want to put it all behind him and look to make a quick impact.

Shaw is still young and has a lot of playing years ahead of him. He would definitely not want to jeopardize that bright future of his and will be looking to remain fit as far as possible.

#8 Thiago Alcantara

The very highly rated Spanish midfielder, Thiago Alcantara is no stranger to knee injuries. The Bayern Munich player who was snapped up from Barcelona by Pep Guardiola has failed to cement a place for himself in the starting lineup because of his struggle with a number of injuries.

Right from his Barcelona days, Thiago has had a very troublesome knee issue and the ghosts don’t seem to leave him even after his shift to the Bavarian club.

Thiago suffered an intra-articular ligament crack in his knee in March, 2013 and returned to fitness in May, only to suffer the same injury again within 10 days. This injury of his saw him miss the much-coveted spot in the World Cup squad, and maybe he could have helped Spain in their woeful campaign this time round.

He returned to full fitness in October, but relapsed with the same injury yet again and has been out of the game since.

Thiago is expected to make a comeback by the end of February, and would hope that he can keep himself fit for his sake if not for the team. Bayern have an incredibly talented squad and are moving along just fine without Thiago.

It’s time for Thiago to sit and ponder upon his fitness issue and not make any knee-jerk decisions. Pun intended.

#9 Thomas Vermaelen

With Barcelona’s defence coming under a lot of fire in the previous season, 2 new centre backs were brought in the form of Jeremy Mathieu and Thomas Vermaelen. While Mathieu has quickly made himself a big part of the team, Vermaelen is yet to register a single minute of competitive playing time.

Since his transfer, the Belgian defender has been plagued with injuries. He did play a friendly for the reserve team alongside Luis Suarez, but that is about all that Vermaelen has done for Barcelona this season.

He was adjudged to be fit to play against APOEL FC in the Champions Trophy, but was then taken off the squad for another injury. Vermaelen recently underwent surgery on 2nd December for a recurring hamstring injury and is expected to be out until April.

Though he is as good as out for the whole season, Vermaelen has to start laying the ground work if he is to get playing time next season.

#10 Radamel Falcao

When Radamel Falcao was signed on a controversial loan deal on transfer deadline, defenders of opposition teams would have been scared to their very bones at the prospect of facing him alongside Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie.

Falcao however was coming off a major knee injury for which he had to undergo cruciate ligament surgery. He was another name on the long list of superstars to have missed to World Cup owing to their injuries.

‘El Tigre’ has not been getting the amount of playing time he would have wanted, with young James Wilson preferred over him on many occasions. This could be indicating the fact that Falcao has yet to reach the fitness level that Louis van Gaal would want him to be in. He suffered a calf injury in October and was sidelined for a month owing to the same.

He made his return to the starting lineup on 20th December, but has still not looked the same lethal force that he was when playing for the likes of FC Porto and Atletico Madrid. It is important for Falcao to get back to the top of his fitness levels and his game as well, especially because he stated that he wants to make his move to Old Trafford permanent and become a legend here.

His agent, Jorge Mendes revealed a few days back that Falcao will be at a big club next season, and this could be Manchester United or some other club. Who knows? But one thing is for sure. No club will bid big bucks for an unfit Radamel Falcao.

#11 Marco Reus

Borussia Dortmund has been having a torrid time this season with the team lying in the relegation zone at 17th spot. A number of injuries to key players like Mats Hummels, Ilkay Gundogan and many more. However, the injuries of Marco Reus have been the one to hit the hardest.

The talented and versatile German playmaker has been the unfortunate victim of the ‘taking the field, injuring himself, being out for quite some time’ cycle. His ankle has been the major area of concern for manager Jurgen Klopp and Borussia Dortmund.

Reus also missed out on playing in the World Cup and sharing the glory of winning the tournament alongside his fellow teammates.

Reus has been the most instrumental player for Dortmund, especially after the departures of Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski. Despite his injury concerns, there are no lack of suitors for Reus with Barcelona, Chelsea and Real Madrid all having shown reported interested.

Whether he stays at Signal Iduna Park or moves onto some other club, it is crucial for Reus to keep his fitness levels up and not become just another tragic career. Every football fan would love to see Marco Reus back on the pitch, just for the quality he brings to the pitch.