The pain game: What’s the solution to the growing injury lists in top level football?

After a World Cup summer, perhaps it was always inevitable the topic of injuries would overshadow the first three and a half months of the Premier League season.

Many clubs can complain of genuine crises. Manchester United were already struggling to cope before the recent international break added a few more bruised and battered bodies to their ranks.

Since the campaign began, Arsenal players have suffered close to 30 injuries. Liverpool have experienced well- documented problems too — most notably with Daniel Sturridge while Everton and Newcastle can both point to casualty-lists that stretch into double-figures.