Premier League most injured XI: Theo Walcott, Tomas Rosicky and Abou Diaby feature
Thursday 3 September 2015 19:12, UK
Arsenal duo Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky, along with recently released Gunner Abou Diaby, feature in the most injured Premier League XI of the 21st Century.
A new study by physioroom.com, which has analysed the total days missed by Premier League footballers due to injury, has found the three players to be the most often absent in their respective positions.
In goal for the XI is Craig Gordon, who suffered a serious knee injury while with Sunderland.
Ahead of him, in defence, is Tony Hibbert, who missed plenty of game time with Everton in 2006/07, former Tottenham captain Ledley King, who was famously hampered by knee problems, Newcastle's Steven Taylor, who has amassed 1205 days on the sidelines, and former Spurs and QPR full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto.
The midfield is made up of Abou Diaby - the player with the most days out injured in the team (2156) - Rosicky and Owen Hargreaves, whose knee problems affected his career at Manchester United and Manchester City.
In the forward positions, Walcott, who last season returned from a serious knee ligament injury, is joined by Victor Anichebe, who missed 11 months after a bad tackle in 2009, and former Stoke forward Mamady Sidibe.
Physioroom.com has compiled data on player injuries since 2001 and continues to monitor which players are currently sidelined in its injury table.
Everton currently have the most players injured, with eight of their squad out of action.
