Generally, football players go through torrid times early in their careers as they struggle to maintain their fitness levels. Injuries can either attribute to a short period on the shelf or permanently end one’s career. In some cases, the player would not be able to produce similar performances as before the tragedy. Here are players that have revived their careers after a severe injury or decline in 2021.
Players That Have Revived Their Careers
John Stones
John Stones joined Manchester City from Everton in a deal worth £47.5 million back in 2016. After the transfer, he struggled for form and was subsequently eventually benched in the forthcoming seasons. The struggle did not end until the pandemic-hit season, where the former Barnsley man has formed a lethal partnership with the Portuguese international Ruben Dias. Aside from his good ball-playing instincts, he has bagged an impressive five goals from the centre-back position. At 26, Stones could go on to live up to his full potential.
Alvaro Morata
Alvaro Morata had a fine reputation initially, as he played for Atletico Madrid in the youth ranks. He moved to Getafe briefly soon after for more first-team exposure, but his talent caught the attention of Real Madrid. The 13-time Champions League winners soon sealed the signature of the highly-rated youngster in 2008.
After six years in Madrid, he caught the attention of Juventus, who procured the signing except for a buy-back clause. He won two Serie A titles and reached the Champions League final in the 2014/15 season. His successful run came to a halt when the Los Blancos opted to cash in on the buy-back clause. His return coincided with one of the club’s best years as they won the La Liga title and the Champions League. Morata ended the season with a satisfying goal tally of 20 goals in 43 appearances.
In the summer of 2017, Chelsea signed him on a permanent deal worth £60 million. He struggled for form throughout the campaign, and as a result, he re-joined Atletico Madrid on loan, where he found his feet once again. At the end of the 2019/20 campaign, he returned to Juventus on loan with the option to buy at the end of the season. He has impressively scored 16 goals and has provided 12 assists.
Players That Have Revived Careers
Jesse Lingard
Jesse Lingard‘s decline in recent years is well documented, as the West Ham United loanee only bagged one Premier League goal last season for Manchester United. The steep decline and the arrival of Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon saw him lose his place in the team. He also lost his spot in the England National Team after the slump.
After receiving criticism over his performances, he was loaned to West Ham in the January of 2021. Since the arrival, he has boosted West Ham’s chances of achieving a spot in the Champions League. With six goals and three assists in eight Premier League appearances, the 28-year old is showing no signs of stopping, and as a result, he is back in contention for a spot in the England National Team for the Euros this summer.
Lucas Vazquez
Dani Carvajal‘s loss has become Lucas Vazquez‘s gain. The injury to the 29-year old right-back meant that Zinedine Zidane had to turn to Lucas Vazquez to occupy the position. Since then, the Spaniard has gone from being one of the overlooked players to one of the first names on the team sheet. Real Madrid’s form has not been blistering, but they are still in the race to retain the La Liga title. The former Espanyol loanee’s form could dictate how Real Madrid could finish the season.
Moise Kean
The 23-year old Moise Kean made a leap when he signed with Everton on the back of a promising campaign in the 2018/19 season with Juventus. The subsequent season was the start of a pitiful time as he only scored two goals in 33 appearances with the Toffees. The underwhelming season included a moment when the youngster was brought on a substitute in the middle of a game, but to everyone’s surprise, was subbed off minutes later by the then interim boss Duncan Ferguson. Paris Saint-Germain‘s interest at the end of the season raised eyebrows, but he has proved his doubters wrong by chipping in 15 goals in 31 appearances.
Luke Shaw
In the summer of 2014, Manchester United captured the 30-million acquisition of 18-year old Luke Shaw from Southampton. The price made him the most expensive teenager in the world. After displaying sparks of brilliance at the start, he suffered a double leg break courtesy of a sliding tackle during the opening match of the Champions League group stage game against PSV Eindhoven.
After the long break on the sidelines, Shaw returned but was not the same. With the reduced pace and a bulkier look, his play was more restricted. The full-back was lambasted by Jose Mourinho, who was the manager at the time. To exacerbate the matter, he lost his place in the England National Team due to a lack of form and recurring injuries. The arrival of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has lit up the 25-year old fortunes. With seven assists and a goal against the League-leaders Manchester City, he is arguably the best left-back in the Premier League as of 2021.
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