LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 07: Crystal Palace players and fans take part in a minutes applause in memory of Elianne Andam prior to the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest at Selhurst Park on October 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
“I was doing extra”: £43,000-a-week Crystal Palace player now admits he trained so hard he got injured
Sam Johnstone has now admitted that he trained so vigorously at Crystal Palace that he picked up an injury.
The £43,000-a-week man made the revelation when speaking to the BBC.
So, what did Sam Johnstone say? Let’s take a look…
What’s the story?
Well, the England international opened up on the challenges he faced during the 2022/23 campaign, in which he acted as No.2 behind Vicente Guaita for most of the season.
Johnstone said: “That was tough. It is the first time in a seven or eight year period that it had happened to me. Unfortunately I had a few injuries and broke up my rhythm a little bit. That was hard to deal with.
“It was tough but every day I was training I tried my best. I was doing extra and probably ended up doing too much and got injured. I had to manage that as well. I was going to the gym in the morning, then I’d have breakfast, then gym before training, train and gym afterwards. Then you’d break down which I think my body wasn’t used to as I was used to playing. It was tough.”
Despite a turbulent 2022/23 campaign, Johnstone has emerged from it superbly.
Crystal Palace have a diamond in Sam Johnstone
The Crystal Palace No.1 currently boasts the most clean sheets in the Premier League with four shutouts in eight appearances so far.
Johnstone was also handed a start by Gareth Southgate in England’s 1-0 win over Australia last week as reward for his excellent start to the season.
Hopefully, the 30-year-old’s injury problems are now behind him, and he can continue to shine in between the sticks under Roy Hodgson.
If a setback does occur later on this season, then we at least have the £20m Dean Henderson to step in once he regains full fitness – despite weaknesses in other areas, the goalkeeping department at Selhurst Park is in top shape.
