Sports medicine and sports science is an extremely important aspect of player support.

The medical welfare and physical development of Academy players allows for the player to continue to hone their skill in the knowledge that their physical, physiological and psychological development is being catered for.

Further, where injury does occur, then the professional medical support system will ensure that the player can return to training/playing in the quickest and safest possible time frame.

The Academy sports medicine and sports cience department is staffed by two senior full-time physiotherapists with extensive experience in football sports medicine, and a part-time doctor.

Each player undergoes a full medical examination by the Academy doctor as part of the Academy registration requirement.

A doctor's clinic is available each week in order for players sustaining injury during weekend games to be reviewed.

Where ongoing physiotherapy treatment is required, a clinic is available on an evening basis every weekday.

The Academy also operates under the Premier League Medical Care Scheme and therefore, if further specialist investigation is required, then it is available within a very short time frame.

This provides expert support in relation to the development of all Academy players from a physical, physiological and phsychological perspective.

The department has already been very proactive in relation to a player's education and development by producing detailed handbooks on flexibility and mobility exercises for players to perform at home, both in-season and close-season.

In addition, a handbook entitled Nutrition for Football is available and this will be of assistance to players, coaches, parents/guardians and landlords/landladies.

By providing the very best of medical care, health education and sport science support any parent/guardian can be assured that their son is being given the opportunity to develop their skills to the optimum.