Nottingham Forest has launched a 12-week research study in partnership with Glasgow-based biotechnology company Entourage to explore whether advanced blood testing can help identify injury risks in football players before they occur.
The initial phase will involve 25 players from the club’s men’s B team. Researchers will collect blood samples twice a week and analyse thousands of proteins to monitor how players’ bodies respond to training, matches, physical exertion, injuries and recovery.
The project aims to identify biological changes that could provide early warning signs of potential injuries.
Blood Protein Patterns Could Help Predict Injury Risks
Researchers will compare the blood test results with players’ training records, workloads and medical information. The objective is to identify specific patterns in blood proteins that may indicate an increased risk of injury.
Particular attention will be given to whether the technology can detect the risk of non-contact injuries affecting muscles and soft tissues. These injuries can occur without an external collision and are a recurring challenge for professional football clubs.
The technology’s developers believe it could eventually help professional athletes extend their playing careers and potentially remain active in the sport beyond the age of 40.
However, the potential benefits will depend on whether the research can establish reliable links between protein patterns and future injuries.
Hamstring Injuries Remain a Major Challenge in Football
Hamstring injuries are among the significant causes of player absences in professional football.
According to a UEFA report, during the 2021-22 season, hamstring injuries accounted for one out of every five playing days lost because of injuries. The proportion had doubled compared with two decades earlier.
Separate research into English professional football found that a player typically misses an average of 19 days because of a hamstring injury.
These figures underline the importance of identifying injury risks early and improving the way clubs manage players’ physical workloads.
More Research Needed Before Wider Use
Experts believe that if advanced blood testing can reliably identify injury risks, football clubs could use the findings to make better decisions about training intensity, rest periods and recovery programmes.
Such information could help medical and coaching teams adjust individual training schedules before minor physical problems develop into more serious injuries.
For now, however, the Nottingham Forest project remains a research study. Further testing and evidence will be needed to establish how accurately the technology can predict injuries and whether it can deliver practical benefits across professional football.
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