He continues to be a great asset on the pitch when fit but sadly for Liam Walsh those times are far less than Swansea City fans would like. He missed out on the 5-0 demolition of Swindon Town in the Swans final behind closed doors friendly of the season. So, we ask the question, what price now that the talented scouser can overcome an injury ridden career ?

The omission of Walsh from Saturdays squad game against Swindon Town raised some eyebrows, but was possibly overshadowed by the pending departure of Morgan Whittaker to Plymouth Argyle. Had he been fully fit you would have expected his inclusion, and without any other news to the contrary we look forward to this weeks games at reserve and first team level for answers.

It’s been over two years since Walsh signed for the Swans, during that time he has played in just twelve games. He had what could only be described as an unsuccessful time on loan at Hull City eighteen months ago starting just three matches. With his contract up at the end of this season there will be few takers for his services with such a poor injury record despite news coming out of the club last summer he could be on his way. That didn’t happen due to injury which for many was an injury too far.

Our inquiries have shown that Swansea City do have rigorous protection for their players and there are numerous plans in effect in the event of semi or permanent injury, catastrophe or any other situation that impacts on the players availability. This should not be confused with the Club Protection Programme which ensures FIFA pay out in the event of injury when the player represents his or her country. It’s up to the players club to ensure they have appropriate cover for all of their players if they seek compensation for a stop in the services a player can offer. It is unlawful to write in to a contract an injury clause ‘per se’ but agents, clubs and players have found numerous ways to circumvent the law and its vagrancies over time.

You can even take out insurance if three or more players are injured in what is described as a catastrophic incident !

Players do take out their own insurance at times, but speaking yesterday to a very close friend of the website at the PFA ( Players Football Association ) they stated. “ Becoming a member of the PFA is a necessity for any professional player at Premier League, FA WSL ( Women ) or English Football League club on a full contract. The players club have a duty to ensure the fee’s are paid and membership continues. It’s currently £150 a year for all players at any level. The services are wide ranging and carry on for the entirety of the players life. We also encourage participation in our various growth funds which we entrust to Mobius Life Ltd. We can’t reference specific cases but a player with frequent injuries or a player anticipating retirement under the old scheme ( aged 35 ) should most certainly be aware of their financial stability and that’s all managed by the PFA. In the case of a player looking to retire through injury after all avenues have been explored we offer counselling and advice plus the necessary financial support. If there’s a better out there I’ve yet to see it. We have a wide range of diverse representatives at all levels of the PFA”

Footballers like Liam most certainly do have a wealth of support and access available to them. The PFA even offer a Shariah fund. This is the HSBC Islamic Global Equity Index Fund which is a passive fund which replicates the Dow Jones Islamic Titans 100 Total Return Index. Only those of you in the business itself will know what that means !

Six hundred days lost
Liam Walsh has missed out on almost half of his time at the Swans through injury, and his major injuries from numerous hamstrings, an achilles tendon and thigh injuries haven’t helped throughout his whole career. Now on six hundred days lost in his career Liam at twenty five has played seventy seven league games over nearly eight years. It’s reasonably safe to say this is Liam’s big season for sure. We can only hope that he turns some form of corner. He has only ever played twenty six league games in one season once, and that was for Coventry on loan. Next best is fifteen in one season for Yeovil. In fact since 2015, when at Everton Liam has averaged around nine league games a season all told.

We accept that selection for Everton’s first team would have skewed these figures for two seasons.

Swans fans love what Liam Walsh can do, and we do too. He is a diamond of a player when on form, but now part way through his career at the highest level he is likely to play at surely now big decisions have to be made. Those decisions have to be in the best interests of the player and his club, of course as it stands those conversations will have already taken place, this is a professional environment with hundreds of thousands of pounds at stake.

In the meantime we just have everything crossed for Liam Walsh’s immediate future, and just hope this is the season he leaves an impression on his time at Swansea City.

Photographs licensed from Reuters & Open Source

ReslovenSwan1 added 13:04 - Jul 18 An easy problem to solve. Pay on games played. If he is on £5k a week that is £250,000 per anum. Good money for doing nothing. He has made £500,000 in Swansea so has his mortgage and living costs covered. £5000 a game. He could accept a two year deal now if he trusts his body. £5,000 per game played. £2000k a week if fit but not picked. I suspect Watson thinks he does not need to offer this and can find better. Swnsea have to ask questions why it has both Walsh and Allen who is not the player he was and a manager complaining about a lack of athleticism. Grimes is always fit.

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