Izzy Brown is struggling to cope with sharp body movements after a near year-long absence from playing first-team football, according to Phil Hay.
The Yorkshire Evening Post correspondent provided some insight on his personal Twitter account into Brown’s comeback hopes after he broke down with an injury while playing for the Leeds United Under-23s today (Monday).
United lost the match 2-0 against Barnsley at their Thorp Arch headquarters, but the main point was the injury that saw the Chelsea loanee hobble off after 33 minutes with what appeared to be a hamstring problem.
Hay explained that Brown has not yet been back in the first-team squad after making four Under-23s appearances because his lengthy absence has affected his “ability to cope with twisting, turning, sprinting”.
Bielsa made the point last week that the reason Izzy Brown wasn't involved with the first team yet was because an absence as long as his affects the body's ability to cope with twisting, turning, sprinting etc. Been a long time since he played regularly.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) December 17, 2018
OPINION
The list of top-level players who have broken down with a muscle problem shortly after starting their comebacks from serious knee injuries such as the one Brown sustained in January of this year is a lengthy one. The key for clubs and coaching staffs is not to over-train the players, or rush them back into sustained action too quickly. Leeds had appeared to be taking a sensible approach with Brown, as the Under-23s clash against Barnsley today was his fourth run-out over the last month for the age-group side. Yet, it is not just match time. Training schedules must not overload the player, or put too much demand on a body still getting used to the super-sharp movements required at professional level. It would be a shattering blow for Brown if he has torn or ruptured a muscle, or suffered a serious setback. Clearly, such a lengthy absence would have been mentally toiling, as well as physically tough.