'They play too much:' Steve Bruce makes plea for player welfare following return to football with Blackpool

The Seasiders head coach has overseen five games already since stepping into the dugout at Bloomfield Road for the first time on September 14, and has had to deal with his fair share of injuries.

Bruce, who has dropped down to League One nearly two years on from his last job in football, admits too much is now asked of players at certain levels.

In total last season, Blackpool played a total of 59 games, after competing in the league, the EFL Cup, the EFL Trophy and the FA Cup.

“They play too much,” Bruce said.

“The schedule is far too much. I don’t want to jump on the bandwagon because I’ve been out of it for two years and I’ve missed it, so they could play every day for me, but it’s not right what we’re asking them to do.

“This is the consequence of it. You play people tired, they’re not quite right, they don’t recover, so they pick up injuries. It’s quite simple.

“The welfare of the players needs to be looked at, playing 60 games a season is far too much for any professional sportsman to compete in.”