Features

Missing talismans

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 10/12/2009
Football betting

Jimmy Bullard's return to the first-team fold at Hull City has brought about a revival in their fortunes over the past month and, as a result, their Premier League position looks a little healthier.

The shaggy-haired, effervescent and loveable midfielder has suffered horrendously throughout his career with a spate of serious injuries and, after making his long-awaited comeback in the 2-1 home win against Stoke City on November 8, the Tigers form has since significantly improved.

He inspired the KC Stadium-based outfit by setting up a goal and scoring a penalty in the 3-3 draw with West Ham United a fortnight later and, although he didn't feature in the 3-2 success against Everton soon after, he ran in a man-of-the-match performance in the excellent 1-1 stalemate at Manchester City, again scoring a spot-kick to grab a valuable point.

The Cockney has impressed so much that he was rewarded with the Premier League Player of the Month Award for November.

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Phil Brown's men, who are one of the online sportsbook favourites to be relegated this term, have won one and drawn two of the three games Bullard played but, after starting against Aston Villa on Saturday, his injury voodoo returned when he crumpled in a heap with a knee problem and was replaced on 19 minutes.

His side were put to the sword and hammered 3-0 by the rampant Villains but, without their talismanic star for the remaining 70 minutes, they looked more like the Hull City of old.

It isn't just the Humberside club who are almost reliant on one player to tick. Take Premier League rivals Liverpool, for example.

They have won just three times in their last 13 fixtures with Spanish sensation Fernando Torres either out the side or struggling through the pain barrier with a groin injury.

Along with their spearhead striker, captain Steven Gerrard has endured a spell on the sidelines with his own injury woes as the Reds' drought rolls on.

Away from football, Andrew Flintoff's long-term spells in the treatment room always brought a cloud of misery upon England's cricket fraternity.

His stature and prowess to the gazing eye always outweighed the statistics that suggested England actually didn't miss him all that much in the Test arena.

Shane Bond, New Zealand's lead seam bowler, made his long awaited comeback to the Test circuit recently but soon broke down much to the despondency of his selectors.

Without a natural replacement for the Black Caps, his elusiveness always proves to be a thorn in their side.

Jonny Wilkinson's return to the England rugby union team has revitalised the unit. It is no coincidence that his absence saw England drift down the world rankings as a result.

Now that he back in the set-up, England can begin to hope he can help them turn the corner once more.

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