Newcastle United make 'game-changing' backroom appointment to combat 1,950-day injury crisis

Paul Mitchell has made his first breakthrough as Newcastle United sporting director by appointing James Bunce to the backroom staff.

Having worked alongside the performance guru at Southampton and Monaco, Mitchell has added Bunce to the Toon ranks to help alleviate Eddie Howe’s fitness woes. Newcastle came under scrutiny last season for an unprecedented injury record.

A staggering 1,950 days missed due to injury was more than any club in the division - and set a Premier League record. As a result, Newcastle failed to replicate the previous season’s top-four heroics.

Champions League football and extended matches due to stoppage-time rules are viewed as two reasons behind the crisis. But Howe’s ruthless training methods also came under question - with Bournemouth suffering a similar situation in 2019-20.

Bunce - whose specialities include injury prevention and physical performance - has been drafted in to help alleviate Newcastle’s struggles. His appointment marks the first major decision Mitchell has made since succeeding Dan Ashworth as sporting director.

A seasoned operator who Mitchell knows well, Bunce has worked in the US and for the Premier League as well as his roles at top-level clubs. The 34-year-old is the latest name to join the Saudi-backed revolution on Tyneside, which is undergoing a slight reboot following several backroom changes.

New sporting director Mitchell gave Bunce a stellar appraisal after bringing him to Monaco in 2020. He said: "James is an individual who has established himself in recent years as a benchmark in the field of high performance. 

“Through James’ arrival (at Moncao), the aim is to give our organisation the intelligence and expertise to grow to challenge the world’s elite in athletic performance. We want to provide the necessary conditions to perform on and off the field using the latest technologies and practices of high-level sport. 

“All this work will allow us to optimise the sporting training and physical ability of the players to meet the ever-increasing demands of the game."