7 players who have been overworked this season

Sanchez missed several games this seasonThere are some players how are so crucial to a team that they considered undroppable. These players play a very important role in the squad and are consistent performers which is why managers find it difficult to not select them in their match day squad.There are many who are used to the grind of the game and can play day in day out but even the best and most fit players need a break once in a while. Some of these players have even suffered a loss in form or picked injuries due to not being rested.Here are seven players who have been the most overworked this season

#7 Chris Smalling - Manchester United

Chris Smalling has played at a very consistent level this season. He has always been a presence at the back and is probably United’s best defender. Smalling has clocked 3,699 minutes this season which is the second highest in the team.

Despite the team not being very good in attack having only scored only 37 goals in 29 matches in the Premier League it’s their defence that has been the positive this season. United have only conceded 27 goals which is the second least in the league after Tottenham Hotspur.

Smalling has played in 26 of those 29 games with Daley Blind partnering him on most occasions. The club are facing an injury crisis which has left Van Gaal short on options, especially at the back. This situation has forced him to play Smalling in almost every game.

According to Squawka, his performance score at 620 is the highest among all his teammates which only highlights the Englishman’s importance to the side. The defender though has had troubles with injuries in the past which may come back to haunt him.

Hopefully, Van Gaal will get some of his players back from injury sooner rather than later to ensure Smalling does not suffer from burnout.

#6 Nathaniel Clyne - Liverpool

Nathaniel Clyne has been one of the most consistent performers this season for Liverpool. The right back has been a regular presence throughout the season playing in every single Premier League game this season except the most recent one against Crystal Palace.

In the Europa league, he only missed the first game against Bordeaux but played in every other game since then. He has clocked a total of 3,581 minutes in all competitions which is second highest in the Liverpool squad. Simon Mignolet has played the most number of minutes with 3,870.

To be only 300 minutes behind the club goalkeeper who generally does play the most minutes regardless of the club shows how important the player is to the team. But it also indicates that he is the most susceptible to fatigue.

Liverpool also play a high pressing game which requires the players to cover more distance on the pitch. In fact, under Jurgen Klopp Liverpool have become the team that has covered the most distance in the Premier League

To the player’s credit, he hasn’t shown any signs of exhaustion but every player has a limit and Klopp should be wise enough to know Clyne’s.

#5 Dele Alli - Tottenham Hotspur

Dele Alli has been something of a revelation this season. From a relative unknown in the championship, last season he has taken to the Premier League like an old pro in 2015/16. A crucial member of a young spurs squad he’s helped his side mount a serious title challenge.

Alli is only 19 years of age but has already made over a 100 professional appearances, in club football. He also received his first England call-up last year. But the Premier League was always going to tiring for any teenager.

Though his showings have been admirable of late we have seen that he has shown signs of fatigue. Considering his young age it is natural for him to feel the after effects of having to play day in and day out at the highest level.

Mauricio Pocchetino also employs a high pressing game which requires a lot of energy, another contributing factor to his fatigue. Alli has played a total of 2633 minutes, 6th highest in the squad, not a small number for a player of his age in his first full season in the Premier League.

#4 Antoine Griezmann - Atletico Madrid

Antoine Griezmann has earned a huge fan following in Atletico over the last couple of seasons. He has been so consistent over the last few years that Atletico haven’t felt the absence of a recognized striker very much.

Indeed, his scoring record is quite phenomenal for a winger and at one point he was the third highest scorer in La Liga over the last three seasons. Athletico’s reliance on the Frenchman is very noticeable but it also means Diego Simeone will find it difficult to drop him from the squad.

And so it has proved as the 24-year old has not missed a single game in La Liga or the Champions League this season. Griezmann has played a total 39 matches and has only not completed the full 90 minutes in 14 of those games.

Simeone also employs a high pressing and physical game which requires his players to do a lot of running. The winger has 3217 completed minutes under his belt which is third highest in the squad. The only competition he hasn't featured in all the games is the Copa Del Rey.

#3 Alexis Sanchez - Arsenal

Alexis Sanchez is probably the best examples of the consequences of overwork this season. The Chilean had a shortened summer break after having to play in the Copa America this season which they won.

Wenger was set to recall his star man later than his other players due to his excursion but Sanchez had the desire to come back immediately and so he joined the team a week earlier than expected.

He had a slow first few games but then really clicked into gear after scoring a hat-trick against Leicester City. He followed that up with good performances against Manchester United and Watford.

He also took part in several international matches between Premier League games which made it a more hectic schedule. Slowly Sanchez started to lose form. He stopped scoring goals at regular intervals and started looking exhausted on the pitch.

The games finally took its toll as Sanchez pulled his hamstring during a game against Norwich due to which he didn’t take part in eight of Arsenal’s Premier League games. That duration could have been shortened if he hadn’t suffered a setback in training while trying to speed up his recovery.

After his return from injury Sanchez has not looked the same type of player he was but his goal against Tottenham has provided some signs that his form is returning.

#2 Anthony Martial - Manchester United

Martial has arguably been United’s best outfield player this season. The Frenchman became the most expensive teenager in the world after signing for £36 million from AS Monaco. He has been impressing several critics and fans with his performances.

United have stumbled and stuttered all season and currently lie 6th but had it not been for the Frenchman they might be languishing even lower. The striker has played every single game for United when he has been fit.

His first few games were terrific for the Red Devils. He scored on his debut against Liverpool with a further 3 goals in his next 3 Premier League matches. Despite his shortcomings in front of goal since then, the forward has put in some impressive performances throughout 2015/16.

Martial has played just over 3000 minutes of football this season and is 5th highest at his club in the same category. There aren’t many players below the age of 23 that have spent so much time on the pitch and the manager will wary of the same.

He has scored only 7 goals in total in 2015/16 mainly due to him still getting acquainted with English football. For a 20-year-old, playing every single game can be very demanding physically and also increases the risk of injury.

#1 Jamie Vardy - Leicester City

Jamie Vardy has had an incredible season with Leicester City. His goals have propelled the foxes to the top of the table and have made the club the most unlikeliest of title challengers.

The striker broke a long-standing Premier League record previously held by Ruud Van Nistelrooy who scored in 10 consecutive league games for Manchester United. Vardy went one better by scoring in 11 consecutive games this season.

Recently though he has seen a slight dip in form. After scoring 14 in his first 14 appearances he has managed only 5 in the last 15. Vardy also had a niggling injury problems few months back but he played through the pain.

The English striker is a hard worker on the pitch. He runs around the pitch like a man possessed which can be very tiring on the body. He has also featured in every single Premier League game clocking 2704 minutes on the pitch, second only to Kasper Schmeichel in the squad.

Leicester are very reliant on their striker because of his energy and goals but his recent performances might suggest he needs a break.