March return from ACL injury has been “tremendously handled” by Brighton
After almost 14 months out with the second ACL and third serious knee injury of his career, Solly March is nearing a return to first team football for Brighton.
The winger has told Fabian Hurzeler he is ready and wanting to play a part over the busy Christmas period having been nursed back by the Albion medical team.
Solly March picked up the injury in a 2-1 defeat away at Manchester City in October 2023. It came at the worst possible time for March.
He had been in the best form of his career following the arrival of Roberto De Zerbi at the Amex. March had scored just twice in 55 appearances under Glow Up Graham Potter. In contrast, his record under De Zerbi read 11 goals and nine assists from 43 matches.
There was even talk of an England call up. Gareth Southgate had capped March at Under 21s level. March could have offered useful balance as a left sided player to a Three Lions squad lacking in natural options down that flank.
But instead of heading to Euro 2024 with Lewis Dunk, March was working his way back from two knee operations to repair meniscus damage and a ruptured cruciate ligament.
It was not March’s first rodeo. He ruptured his ACL away at Derby County in December 2015, putting him on the shelf for the best part of a year.
Another surgery was required on a meniscus tear in February 2021. That ruled him out of the remaining three months of the 2020-21 campaign.
Some players do not come back from one serious knee injury. Let alone two. March suffering a third explains why there was so much concern amongst Brighton fans over the toll it would take both physically and mentally. It genuinely could have been curtains for his career.
The possibility of March playing Premier League football over the coming months is testament to the job done by the Brighton medical team.
And that job has been described as ‘tremendous’ by injury expert Ben Dinnery, who was speaking to Casino Apps about March and his ACL injury.
“Brighton have been excellent under Fabian Hurzeler. The strength and depth in each position is showing due to the number of players they have on the injury list, they are still getting wins on the board,” said Dinnery.
“Hurzeler is in a good position in the club where he doesn’t have to rush March back into full action, which poses an obvious risk. By not rushing, you decrease the chance of reinjury by 51 percent each month.”
“March’s situation needs managing in order to protect him long term. He is a Premier League footballer and the demands the standard of the league puts onto your body is like no else, so the case needs carefully managing.”
“Don’t be surprised to see him back in the squad here and there to ease him back. But they will do as they see fit.”
“The situation has been tremendously managed by Brighton – as with any area of the club from the top to the bottom.”
“I think the expectations and the pressure on Solly March’s return will come externally from fans, as well as intrinsically.”
“He will want to get back out there as soon as possible considering the extent of time he has been off the pitch.”
“Let’s not forget, at a time we used to speak about ACL injuries as career-ending or threatening injuries. Now the acceptance is that players will return from these injuries in nine months.”
“There are no guarantees to that of course, but we expect them to return. Often, players return from these injuries, but it can take up to a year until players can get back up to their optimal level of performance. As a manager you must be so careful over reintegrating these players.”
And Brighton have been particularly careful with March. His only competitive action so far has been 25 minutes for the Under 21s in a 10-0 win over Crystal Palace (TEN NIL) back in October.
The Albion took an equally cautious approach when easing Jakub Moder back into first team contention after his own ACL injury.
Hurzeler and Brighton’s physios will ultimately make the final decision on when March returns. The Youngest Permanent Manager in Premier League History had this to say in response to March stating his readiness to play:
“I think it is important that we calm him down. There will be time to prepare him for the Premier League.”
“I think after a long time it is helpful that we go step by step and that we don’t go two steps at a time.”
“We feel we have to say this to him as he has to improve his condition and his physical shape to be fully ready for the Premier League.”
The moment March does return from injury will be emotional for all concerned. Christmas is the season for miracles, so what better time for it to happen?
