World Cup / Feizal Rahman / 18 January 2010 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Injuries to key England are threatening to harm the national team's chances in South Africa, says Feizal Rahman

"The much-hailed intensity of the Premier League would appear to be the issue rather than the lack of a winter break and with ever-increasing injury concerns, it will be no surprise – as UEFA President Michel Platini has suggested - to see England once again perform as lions in the winter and as lambs in the spring."

In a season alleged to be the most competitive ever, could it actually be that a pandemic of injuries are depriving us of real competition? With the breakneck athleticism of the game leading to a rise in impact injuries, we are increasingly seeing less of the Premier League's top stars in action.

Chelsea have sat atop the table for much of the season and have been more fortunate than their rivals with absentees. Yet, they showed no signs of weakness without their African contingent yesterday, swatting aside Sunderland 7-2 to shorten to [1.77] to win the league.

But, unconvincing for the most part, Manchester United were able to keep themselves within a point of the leaders with a 3-0 win at home to Burnley ([4.2] to retain title). Plagued by a defensive crisis, United have appeared at their most vulnerable for some years but have not slipped significantly behind.

The backline bedrocks of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic have been present together only four times in the league and the experience of Edwin van der Sar available on only six occasions. Midfielder Owen Hargreaves has not been seen since September 2008 and though scheduled to be back in the coming weeks, will be used sparingly as he seeks to re-establish himself as a first team starter.

£30m striker Dimitar Berbatov looks likely to require surgery on a knee complaint leaving an even bigger burden on the shoulders of 15-goal hero Wayne Rooney, with Cristiano Ronaldo now just a memory (Rooney [3.65] favourite to be Premier League Top Goalscorer). Which begs the question of how much better would this United team be with these key players at full fitness?

The same can be pondered about Arsenal, who have improved significantly on last year's effort despite the Emirates physio working overtime since August. Robin van Persie's long-term absence has left Arsene Wenger short in attack, yet his side remain the league's top scorers with 53 goals. But niggling injuries in all areas has tested the depth of his squad, with 26 players in total deployed thus far and only nine of those having played 10 or more games.

At Anfield, however, it seems that when it rains it pours. Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres have played more games together this season than they did at the same stage of the previous but have been unable to remedy the string of dire results. Now both expected to be out until February and March respectively, the future looks even bleaker for Rafa Benitez (Liverpool [3.75] to finish in a "guaranteed" Top 4).

But with those clubs challenging for domestic honours facing a growing list of high profile casualties there may also be serious repercussions for England at the World Cup.

Head coach Fabio Capello will undoubtedly have concerns over the form and fitness of both Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard with the alternatives in either's position unlikely to fill the Italian with confidence.

Joleon Lescott has had a shaky start to his Manchester City career and is himself currently out with a knee injury. Matthew Upson is engaged in a relegation battle with West Ham and has a history of fitness troubles while Everton's Phil Jagileka has been out since April with cruciate ligament damage.

With Hargreaves a long shot to earn a midfield berth in South Africa, holding options in the centre look limited with only Michael Carrick capable of supplementing Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry. On the flanks, Theo Walcott has barely registered on the Arsenal radar this season owing to a series of complaints. Joe Cole, meanwhile, has regained full fitness but has started only seven times for Chelsea under Carlo Ancelotti.

Emile Heskey is another infrequent starter at Aston Villa and a lack of game time may lead Capello to question his loyalty to the 32-year-old striker. All of which leaves the pressure mounting on Rooney to deliver not just for his club but also his country.

The much-hailed intensity of the Premier League would appear to be the issue rather than the lack of a winter break and with ever-increasing injury concerns, it will be no surprise - as UEFA President Michel Platini has suggested - to see England once again perform as lions in the winter and as lambs in the spring ([7.0] to win in South Africa).