Nketiah, who joined Palace from Arsenal in a £30million summer deal, is facing a spell on the sidelines, prompting Palace to question the efficacy and risks associated with players using personal performance specialists.
The injury, reportedly suffered during an independent session, has sidelined Nketiah from Palace’s upcoming fixture against Fulham. Although there is hope that he will return after the international break in time to face Aston Villa, the incident has highlighted the challenges faced by clubs in managing the off-schedule activities of their players.
Palace are now considering implementing stricter guidelines to control the use of external trainers and avoid a repeat of this scenario.
Nketiah, who commands a salary in the region of £100,000 per week, has appeared in nine matches for Palace, starting eight of those. This is a significant increase in his playing time compared to his stint at Arsenal.
During his last season with the Gunners, Nketiah was largely confined to the bench, featuring for just 28 minutes across the final 12 league matches and failing to make an appearance in Arsenal’s last six league games of the season.
The increased playing time could be a contributing factor to Nketiah’s recent hamstring injury. At Arsenal, Nketiah did not have a major history of injuries, except for a 42-day ankle problem in the 2022/23 season.
Now, with the demands of more regular football at Palace, the striker’s body may be adjusting to the increased physical strain.
Crystal Palace are not alone in voicing their concerns, according to the Daily Mail. Both Chelsea and Arsenal are reportedly grappling with similar issues, as top-level players seek additional personal expertise beyond what is offered at their clubs. During his time at Tottenham, Harry Kane’s partnership with Canadian-based sports medicine specialist Dr Alejandro Elorriaga Claraco was met with scepticism by Spurs staff, who remained wary of outside interventions.
A source from another Premier League side described the situation as “crazy” and noted, “Players have their ‘experts’, and ultimately we can’t stop them, but we are the ones to pick up the pieces if it goes wrong.”
Hamstring injuries are notoriously tricky, often requiring significant rest and gradual rehabilitation to prevent recurrence.
For Nketiah, the process will likely include physiotherapy, strengthening exercises, and a structured return to play—a regimen that aims to avoid long-term setbacks and ensures he can contribute effectively when he returns to action.
Hamstring injuries can range in severity from minor strains to complete tears, with recovery timelines stretching from a couple of weeks to several months, depending on the extent of the damage.
At the end of 2023, it was reported that Arsenal players were getting private sessions.
