Injuries can reshape a Premier League season. A club may possess a strong starting XI, but its prospects can change quickly when several important players become unavailable at the same time.
The scale of the problem also depends on how injury records are measured. The number of separate injuries indicates how frequently a squad has been disrupted, while days or matches lost reveal the severity of those problems. Another useful measure is whether the absences involve fringe players or members of the manager’s preferred starting line-up.
With those distinctions in mind, several clubs stand out when comparing the opening months of the 2026/27 campaign with the completed 2025/26 season.
Aston Villa Among the Most Affected This Season
Aston Villa have one of the Premier League’s longest injury lists in the early stages of 2026/27. As of 21 October, nine players were listed as unavailable or managing fitness problems.
The most serious case involves Amadou Onana, whose ACL injury is expected to keep him out for an extended period. Ian Maatsen, Matteo Ruggeri, Johan Manzambi and Aaron Wan-Bissaka have also been among those affected, leaving Villa particularly stretched across midfield and defence.
This is an important example of why the number of injuries cannot be considered in isolation. A short absence for a squad player is relatively manageable, but losing a regular starter for much of the season places much greater pressure on recruitment, rotation and tactical planning.
Villa have therefore experienced both volume and severity. Their list contains numerous short-term concerns, but the presence of a major knee injury significantly increases the overall burden.
Manchester United Facing Widespread Disruption
Manchester United have also carried one of the division’s largest groups of unavailable players. Marcus Rashford, Lisandro MartÃnez, Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw, Benjamin Å eÅ¡ko, Patrick Dorgu and Manuel Ugarte have all appeared on the club’s injury list during October.
The problem is not restricted to one position. United have had fitness concerns in defence, midfield and attack, making it more difficult to maintain a…
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