From commanding centre backs, skilful wingers to prolific goal scorers, our most coveted league has seen them all. However for all those world class stars that have graced our shores there have always been players who didn’t quite fulfil their potential, whether that be through lifestyle, wrong career moves or injury.
Sport.co.uk looks at ten names in Premier League history that didn’t reach the peak of their powers due to injury.
Jimmy Bullard
After spending a number of years in the lower leagues Jimmy Bullard became a top flight player in 2005 when he helped Wigan win promotion. He instantly became one of football’s most popular characters with his ‘cheeky chappy’ approach to the game, but with that was an impressive footballer on the pitch.
Bullard joined Fulham in 2006, but after suffering a serious knee injury at Newcastle in September 2006 he only managed 39 appearances in two and a half seasons at Craven Cottage. Bullard made his comeback from injury for Fulham in January 2008 and it was no coincidence the side enjoyed an upturn in form following the midfielder’s return.
In January 2009 Bullard suffered a second cruciate knee ligament injury on his debut for Hull City, an injury which would rule him out for another six months. After yet another strenuous rehabilitation programme, Bullard once again returned to Premier League action but his performances couldn’t help Hull avoid relegation.
Now on loan at Championship side Ipswich Town from The Tigers, it seems at the age of 32 Bullard has played his last Premier League game. You can never rule anything out in football, but it would be fair to suggest that Bullard has had his shot with English football’s elite. An England call-up in August 2008 gave you the impression he was ready to make the step up, but after a series of career threatening injuries it seems we will never know how far this fan’s favourite could have gone.
David Dunn
A gifted midfielder with attacking flair, David Dunn has enjoyed a long Premier League career with both Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City. Without suffering any major injuries, Dunn has been a victim of a series of niggling injuries that have no doubt had an affect on his form and consistency for both Rovers and City.
Dunn has one England cap to his name, coming on a substitute against Portugal in September 2002. The 31-year-old has had a successful playing career but there is no doubt that without a series of knocks Dunn would have gone on to gain recognition on a bigger stage.
Harry Kewell
After making his Leeds United debut as a 19-year-old Harry Kewell soon became one of the hottest young talents in English Football. The skilful Australian international made 182 appearances for Leeds scoring 63 goals, before making a £5m switch to Liverpool.
In a career that now sees him playing for Turkish side Galatasary, Kewell undoubtedly had the potential to be playing with the elite of world football for many years, and if it wasn’t for persistent fitness setbacks this would have been inevitable.
The 32-year-old has still enjoyed an illustrious career, which has seen him win the UEFA Champions League, the FA Cup and the Turkish Super Cup. Despite winning two major honours at Liverpool, there is no doubt that without his injury troubles Kewell would have gone on to make more of an impact in his five years at Anfield.
Eduardo da Silva
After joining Arsenal from Dinamo Zagreb in 2007, the Brazilian born striker made an instant impact by finding the net in a Champions League qualifier against Sparta Prague. In his first season in English football, manager Arsene Wenger was gently easing his newest asset into his setup.
A striker with quick feet and natural flair, it seemed Arsenal had found a player who could go on to reach the heights of former Gunners favourites.
However on 23 February 2008 disaster struck as Eduardo suffered one of the worst injuries in Premier League history. The Croatian international was the victim of a late tackle from Birmingham City defender Martin Taylor, suffering a fractured left fibula and open dislocation of the ankle.
Eduardo was out of action for twelve months but made a scoring return against Cardiff City in Arsenal’s 4-0 FA Cup win. Despite making a full recovery from his career threatening injury Eduardo failed to make an impact in the Arsenal team, subsequently leaving to join Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer of 2010.
Kieron Dyer
An attacking midfielder who possessed great potential, Kieron Dyer had the ability to make it to the very top. Natural blistering pace was his major asset, but a series of injuries has seen him limited to only 220 Premier League appearances in 12 years.
After numerous hamstring problems at Newcastle United, Dyer joined West Ham United, however his luck wasn’t to change. The former Ipswich man suffered a broken leg in August 2007 which ended up ruling him out for 17 months.
With 33 England caps to his name and links to Manchester United while at Newcastle, Dyer endured a career of many ups and downs, with too many fitness setbacks responsible for his demise to a mere ‘could have been’.
Michael Bridges
An English striker with an eye for goal, Michael Bridges had the potential to become one of the Premier League’s most prolific scorers. After emerging on the top flight stage with Sunderland during the 1996-97 season, Bridges was regarded as one of the country’s hottest prospects.
He sealed a £5m transfer to Leeds United in 1999, which at the time looked like the move that would propel Bridges to stardom. In his first season at Elland Road he netted 19 Premier League goals, finishing fifth top goalscorer in the league. This looked to be the beginning of something special for a player who was now being tipped for an England call-up.
However after suffering a serious Achilles injury in a Champions League group game against Besiktas, Bridges career at the highest level was over before it began. The former Sunderland striker spent another four seasons at Leeds but failed to find the net again as he continued to fight a losing battle with his fitness.
Currently playing in Australia for Newcastle Jets Bridges, 32, could now be looking back on a career that saw him claim major honours as well as international recognition, but sadly he will be remembered as the English goalscoring talent that got away.
Dean Ashton
After impressing in the lower divisions with Crewe Alexandra, Premier League Norwich City signed Ashton for a club record fee of £3m in January 2005.
He was called up to Steve McClaren’s England squad in August 2006 for a friendly with Greece, but would then suffer a broken ankle in training which would go on to plague his career.
Ashton was initially ruled out for over a year, but did manage to make a return to first team action. Despite making 35 appearances in the 2007/08 season Ashton never made a full recovery and was forced to retire aged 26 in December 2009.
Owen Hargreaves
Following Hargreaves’ impressive display at the 2006 World Cup, the Canadian born England international signed for Manchester United in a deal worth a reputed £17m.
Despite winning the Premier League and Champions League in his first season at Old Trafford, Hargreaves’ time at United has been an unhappy one. After suffering from a recurring bout of tendonitis Hargreaves flew to see Colorado knee specialist Dr Richard Steadman, where he had both knees operated on over the 2008 Christmas period.
Since then Hargreaves has only managed seven minutes of Premier League football, with it looking increasingly likely he will be leaving Old Trafford at the end of the season.
Jonathan Woodgate
A strong centre back with a good footballing brain, Woodgate has played for a number of big clubs in a career that has been plagued by injury.
After impressing at Leeds United, Middlesbrough born Woodgate joined Sir Bobby Robson’s Newcastle in January 2003. After an injury ravaged eighteen months at St James’ Park, Woodgate signed for Spanish giants Real Madrid. It was a move that should have been the making of this English talent, but due to injury Woodgate only managed nine league appearances for Real in three seasons.
Now at Tottenham Hotspur, Woodgate’s injury problems haven’t gone away, with it seeming ever more likely he will never get the recognition he deserves as being one of England’s most naturally gifted central defenders.
Ledley King
Spurs captain Ledley King is one of the country’s finest central defenders; however he has endured a career perennially undermined by injur,y which has seen him miss a lot of football.
King‘s incurable chronic knee problem restricts him to just one game a week, but his form when fit to play s still of the highest standard.
A somewhat controversial inclusion to the list given the fact he still plays at the highest level, however there is no doubt an even fitter Ledley King would have gone on to be one of Europe’s most recognised defenders.