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Premiership Betting: King, Neville and Bojinov amongst the walking wounded gearing up for the new season

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Dan "The Betting Man" Fitch moans about his latest "sporting" injury but spares a thought for real footballers and real injuries as the season approaches. How his beloved Spurs could do with a fit Ledley King...

Last week saw my long awaited return to competitive football, after a good year out of action following a horrific sporting injury. Well, maybe I'm exaggerating things a bit. When I say 'competitive', I mean a kick about in Hyde Park with a few mates. When I say 'sporting injury', I mean that I fell off a bar stool whilst drunk at the Sports Café in Haymarket and broke my leg.

I hadn't played football since that injury, nor if my memory serves me right, for about five years previous to the injury. In fact I don't really do any exercise at all, apart from very occasionally going swimming and I only do this if my girlfriend bullies me to the extent that I would prefer to show off my flabby naked torso in public, than to listen to another second of her nagging.

The game had already begun when I arrived and I threw myself into the action. It was dispiriting. I used to be quite good when I used to play regularly (ie. in school), but it seemed that the subsequent fifteen years of near total inactivity, had taken it's toll on the delicacy of my touch.

As has often been the case in my life, just when I didn't think that it was possible to embarrass myself further, I succeeded in doing so. A cross was put into the box and I jumped up to volley it. As I connected with the ball, I felt something go in my knee. I fell in a heap and in the absence of those milk float things that they have in World Cups, I had to drag myself to the sidelines. The shot went wide as well.

A few days have now passed, in which my knee swelled to the size of a melon, I entered hospital and am now hobbling around on crutches. But whilst my return to action could probably be viewed as a failure, a number of Premier League stars will be making their comebacks this season and hoping for a rather more auspicious return.

A long term injury can be difficult to recover from, but a successfully rehabilitated player can be like a new signing for a team. Fulham were destined for the drop until Jimmy Bullard and Brian McBride returned from long term injuries. The duo were pivotal in keeping Fulham up, producing some truly heroic performances.

Manchester United will welcome back their captain Gary Neville for the new season. If he can regain his form then he will be a welcome addition to the side. The one weakness that United had last year was the lack of attacking thrust from right back. Wes Brown performed well in regards to his defensive duties, but he lacks the crossing ability of Neville. A fit again Neville will make the [2.88] available for United to retain the league, even more appealing.

Ledley King is now being the standard bearer for the walking wounded of the football world. He is as good as any defender in the league and if fit, would make a huge difference to a Spurs team that can be backed at [6.4] for a Top 4 finish.

It's a big 'if' though. King's currently back in training, but rumours abound of an arthritic knee condition and possible retirement. Spurs will also welcome back Gareth Bale from a long term absence. Bale was in superb form before his injury last season and Spurs fans will be hoping that his worrying physical likeness to Darren Anderton is where the resemblance ends.

Sven Goran Eriksson proved that picking Darius Vasell for England wasn't a fluke, when he showed a similar ignorance towards strikers by buying the likes of Bianchi, Caicedo and Benjani for Manchester City. But one of Sven's front signings has yet to be proved useless.

Valeri Bojinov was injured after just three games last season, but the Bulgarian is now fit and ready. He operates as a second striker and should he form a useful partnership with the recently signed Jo, then the [7.2] for City in the Winner without the Big Four market, looks a good price.

Finally, there is the enigma of Cristiano Ronaldo. When he returns from injury, will he be in Manchester or Madrid? If it's the former, then when Alex Ferguson finally catches up with him, an injured ankle might be the least of his worries...