Injury News: The Mind Games of Premier League Managers

On Eddie Howe’s second anniversary as Newcastle United manager, a light-hearted exchange in a press conference underscored a curious tradition in football. A reporter jokingly congratulated Howe for “two years without ever telling the truth about injuries.”

Howe’s smiling response, “Thank you very much — that means a lot coming from you,” drew laughs. But it also highlighted a deeply ingrained aspect of football management: the art of evasion when it comes to team news.

Managers across the Premier League are no strangers to dodging questions about injuries or player availability. For some, it’s a tactical manoeuvre; for others, it’s a means of protecting their players. Either way, the practice has become a fascinating subplot to the weekly drama of football.

The Great Injury Bluff

In every pre-match press conference, managers are quizzed on team selection. But whether they offer straight answers is another matter entirely. Newcastle fans have grown accustomed to Howe’s cryptic injury updates, but the Magpies boss isn’t the only manager who sees value in keeping opponents guessing.

Take Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, for example. In Believe, Oleksandr Zinchenko revealed that Arteta has asked injured players to board the team bus or stroll into the dressing room with a washbag in hand, all to confuse the opposition.

Arteta himself has admitted to embracing the guessing game. After Bukayo Saka unexpectedly started against Liverpool last month despite being listed as “very uncertain,” Arteta defended his approach. “I don’t want to make it easy for anyone,” he said. “When I know, I am not going to lie, but if I want to keep you guessing, I will.”