Does Chukwuemeka Show The Demise Of A 90-minute Player?

By

Football issues correspondent

Carney Chukwuemeka's sanction was trending each complete societal media this week.

Had nan Borussia Dortmund midfielder scored a worldie? Maybe he had produced an outrageous portion of skill?

It was a small spot much unusual than that.

The erstwhile Aston Villa and Chelsea midfielder has now made 97 elder appearances crossed each competitions - but someway has ne'er played a afloat 90 minutes.

The 22-year-old made his debut for Villa connected nan last time of nan 2020-21 Premier League play against Tottenham.

He has started 18 games but ever been subbed off. The closest he has sewage to a afloat crippled is nan 82nd minute, twice.

That was successful a 4-1 nonaccomplishment for Chelsea astatine Manchester United successful May 2023, and a 1-1 tie for Dortmund astatine Hamburg successful November 2025.

His different 79 matches person each been from nan bench.

The breakdown of his games is 16 for Villa, 32 for Chelsea and, since his move successful 2024, 49 pinch Dortmund.

This should beryllium nary flimsy connected nan player's ability, pinch Dortmund leader Niko Kovac describing him arsenic "sensationally good".

"The measurement he takes nan shot and carries it, nan measurement he instantly turns successful nan guidance of play, that is really unique," Kovac said aft a 6-0 triumph complete Union Berlin past year.

"He has very bully acceleration and technique. The boy will springiness america joy."

What does this show america astir nan modern crippled pinch 5 substitutes?

Do immoderate different players travel close, aliases is Chukwuemeka an exception?

The alteration successful attack tin beryllium straight attributed to 1 clear event: Covid-19.

Football awoke from its slumber successful June 2020, squeezing nan extremity of a play into a mates of months.

The International Football Association Board (Ifab) stepped successful and offered a impermanent measurement to let coaches to make 5 substitutions alternatively than three.

It was extended for 2 seasons earlier being added arsenic a imperishable ruling.

Controversially, the Premier League opted retired for 2 seasons earlier relenting and pursuing nan remainder of Europe's apical leagues from 2022-23.

"The astir important point is it tin negociate nan workload of players better," Arsenal leader Mikel Arteta said.

"It gives players nan opportunity to beryllium connected nan transportation and gives options to alteration and refresh nan game."

More substitutes intends much appearances. It besides intends less players enactment connected nan transportation for 90 minutes.

Teams successful La Liga, Serie A, nan Bundesliga and Ligue 1 person been much apt to usage them.

In nan 5 years earlier Covid, an mean of 7.1 outfield players played 90 minutes crossed nan apical 5 European leagues. In nan Premier League it was 7.2.

Since 2022-23, nan mean has dropped to 5.5 outfield players.

But nan Premier League has propped that mean up, markedly higher astatine 5.9 players who play 90 minutes.

La Liga and Serie A are astatine nan other ends of nan scale, making nan astir changes pinch 5.3 players staying connected for nan full match.

Chukwuemeka has made nan headlines arsenic he approaches his 100th quality without playing a afloat match.

But is Chukwuemeka retired connected his own, aliases are location different players successful nan aforesaid position?

BBC Sport first looked astatine players who played astatine slightest 50 games - players successful nan apical 5 leagues only.

Between 2014-15 and 2018-19 pinch 3 subs location is not a azygous subordinate who did not play 90 minutes astatine past once.

Expand that to nan coming day, including nan era of 5 subs, and location are 10 players who qualify.

At nan apical of that database is Randy Nteka, a guardant who joined La Liga nine Rayo Vallecano successful nan summertime of 2021.

Including a top-flight indebtedness spell pinch Elche, nan Angola world has played 106 convention matches crossed 5 years and has not played 90 minutes.

Unlike Chukwuemeka, Nteka has astatine slightest managed to play 2 afloat games successful nan Copa del Rey.

Looking astatine 50+ all-competition appearances since Chukwuemeka's debut, only 1 different subordinate has not played a afloat match.

That is Jeff Ekhator, a 19-year-old striker for Genoa successful Italy who made his debut successful August 2024.

The Italy under-19 world has played 51 games successful Serie A and nan Coppa Italia. His longest clip connected nan transportation is 72 minutes successful a 1-1 tie astatine location to Como successful November 2024.

There is 1 guidelines retired subordinate who does not rather qualify: Alan Virginius.

The 23-year-old has played 166 matches, chiefly for Sochaux, Lille and Young Boys, crossed each competitions since making his debut astatine nan commencement of nan 2020-21 season.

The France under-21 world has completed 90 minutes once, successful a Swiss Cup semi-final conclusion for Young Boys against FC Biel-Bienne successful April 2024. He still did not complete nan game, though, substituted 11 minutes into extra-time.

The closest Virginius has travel to a convention 90 minutes was successful March 2024, connected indebtedness astatine Clermont Foot, erstwhile he was taken disconnected successful wounded clip of a 3-0 location nonaccomplishment to Toulouse.

Chukwuemeka, who won nan Uefa European Under-19 Championship pinch England successful 2022, this period switched his allegiance to Austria, nan state of his birth.

Maybe he will get his first 90 minutes connected nan biggest of stages astatine nan World Cup this summer.

At nan European Football Clubs' (EFC) wide assembly successful October a taxable cropped up which mightiness good nutrient groans from supporters: adding different substitute.

Clubs held informal, backstage discussions astir utilizing 28-man squads - up from nan existent 25 - and six substitutes.

Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest were among those who attended from nan Premier League.

Sources adjacent to nan Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) told BBC Sport astatine nan clip that it had doubts if 28-man squads would thief players pinch workload.

It would not extremity them from travelling successful a matchday squad aliases easiness intelligence fatigue sloppy of whether they play.

BBC Sport understands this has not been discussed by Ifab so, astatine present, location is nary imaginable of it changing.

But nan clubs person been talking astir it, and you would not beryllium amazed if they do truthful again.

Chukwuemeka mightiness beryllium an objection astatine nan moment. Add different substitute and nan number of players who are rotated successful and retired is judge to increase.

And that intends nan number of players who are playing 90 minutes will autumn again.