Brentford FC Head of Medical Neil Greig spoke to www.brentfordfc.co.uk at the end of the 2013/14 season.
He has paid tribute to his team for their work as The Bees won promotion from Sky Bet League One and looked ahead to life in The Championship.
In the first part of the interview – which can be read here – Neil outlined the work done over the past three years since he took up his post and ahead to life in the second tier.
More from the interview can be seen below.
The 2013/14 season saw the medical department deal with injuries to a number of players that had to be managed through the campaign.
For example, Adam Forshaw had an ankle problem and had surgery late last month and Harlee Dean had an abdominal issue and also had surgery once Brentford had been promoted.
Neil explained these issues were spotted early in the season and his team had to work with the pair to get them through the match schedule.
“Adam Forshaw has had symptoms with his ankle for over a year,” said Neil
“They became more problematic around September time and we were asking questions to consultants about management and debate about whether he’d get through the season.
“We looked at his weekly structure, days he would train, days he would be off his feet, maybe in the pool or on the Anti-Gravity Treadmill.
“We had to gear his work around the game schedule to get him on the field.
“That seemed to work well; it has been a long term process.”
Adam played 40 games for The Bees in 2013/14.
He missed the odd match through the season but, before the last two games of the campaign, only sat out consecutive fixtures in January, for an unrelated injury picked up against Peterborough United on New Year’s Day.
“The January break wasn’t planned, but with hindsight I believe it helped him” said Neil.
“Adam picked up a nasty muscle injury against Peterborough, he was stamped on.
“We thought that would keep him out for ten days but it went on to four weeks.
“That break gave his ankle a chance to rest, which was useful.
“We got more time out of him after that then we would have done.”
Neil explained Adam saw someone who specialises in his injury.
“We have a group of external specialists who are experts in individual joints or conditions,” he said.
“With Adam, we used a specialist that solely deals in feet and ankles and purely deals with sportsmen.
“They see a thousand ankles a year of this nature, they are an expert, we get the best possible service.
“The guys we use are the same guys clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea use, the people at the top of their game.
“That guides us and the player.
“We had to educate Adam as to the problem, he just wants to train.
“To get him to understand what was going on and why he shouldn’t train all the time was a difficult step.
“Once he had accepted that he helped us, it was good to work with him, it was easy to manage.
“Some players take more interest in the problem, some just want it fixing, however that may come about.
“Adam is a question asker, he wants every detail.
“Those guys, once you have educated them, are easier to work with, they buy in to what you do.”
Neil said without the help of specialists and management of the injury, Adam would probably have needed surgery much earlier.
“Eventually Adam’s symptoms would have stopped him playing and training,” said Neil.
“He would probably have had surgery around Christmas.
“Recovery time is two to three months.
“We may have got him back for the end of the season but would have missed that significant chunk when he was a massive contributor.”
Neil explained Harlee’s injury was a complex one to work with and again specialists were involved.
He said First Team Physiotherapist Daryl Martin worked closely with Harlee throughout the season.
The centre half played 33 games for The Bees in 2013/14, sitting out January to rest and only taking time out of the First Team picture when James Tarkowski had arrived and could step in.
“Harlee Dean picked up a problem early in the season,” said Neil.
“Daryl Martin worked really closely to manage symptoms and try to strengthen the area around training and games.
“He worked wonders with Harlee.
“Our job is to get these guys out there to perform to a high level and that’s exactly what Daryl did with Harlee.
“Harlee’s symptoms worsened over Christmas as we expected.
“We sat him out for January, which was planned.
“We got him in to a better position, once it became apparent promotion was sealed we went away and hoped to get problem fixed.
“It is in an area where there are a multitude of problems that can be wrong.
“Harlee has a rare condition, more akin to something in cricket with a fast bowler as opposed to the classic footballer’s hernia, which is written about in the media.
“This is a rare condition; we don’t have the experience of managing it.
“We went to speak to people that had managed it.
“Daryl has contacts in Olympic sports and cricket; he has spoken to guys to work out management plans.”
Neil said Brentford’s reputation was growing and when they approached specialists about players there was a good reaction.
He added the staff within the department also helped.
Daryl Martin has worked in different top level sports, including Olympic sports, and elite ballet dancing while Dr Matt Stride works in a Harley Street centre run by Isokinetic, a private sports medical group.
It is England’s first F-MARC (FIFA Medical and Research Centre) Centre of Excellence.
Neil said: “We get a positive reaction when we go to specialists.
“Daryl Martin has worked at top level Olympic sport, rowers and sprinters.
“I have worked in football at high levels in departments with good reputations.
“We have built contacts we trust and who are open to helping us.
“The reputation and the feedback we have received over past two years has been very positive.
“We have Matt Stride working on Harley Street, in a FIFA clinic, a worldwide recognised sports medicine set-up.
“He bangs the drum for Brentford Football Club.
“The feedback is positive and reputation is growing.
“We have good people in positions to work for Brentford over last two to three years.
“That is paying dividends.”
The 2013/14 season also saw Uwe Rösler leave his position as Brentford Manager to be replaced by Mark Warburton, who had previously been Sporting Director.
Neil had worked with Uwe since becoming Head of Medical in the summer of 2011 but said there was a smooth transition.
“On a personal note it was really easy,” said Neil.
“I have worked with Mark for nearly eight years.
“I know his work as a coach and man manager and trust him implicitly.
“When he said he didn’t want anything to change in the department, I was delighted.
“He worked behind the scenes and knows the quality of the people in place.
“It’s testament to them he didn’t want to change anything.
“I have been fortunate to work with good managers.
“Uwe was very trusting of our department and encouraging of us.
“I have nothing but good things to say, I have worked under two really good guys.”
Neil said Mark had listened to advice about players and their individual needs.
“Everybody is different,” he said.
“We had a young nucleus of a squad.
“Each individual has had dipped at times through the season and they need a rest.
“The manager has played that well.
“Players like Marcello Trotta, George Saville, Adam Forshaw are in the infancy of their careers, they have times when they need to train less or come away from matches.
“The manager has been open to our advice on that.”