Slider1960 I think it's a bit rich coming from Coppell who retired at 27 (28?) because of dodgy knees. Where was his fitness to avoid "niggling" injuries?
I don't equate a double-footed lunge in the back of the knees from a 13-stone centre back with the word "niggling". I aslo can't call appendicitis "niggling" as it is excrutiatingly painful and, if not treated immediately, can lead to peritonitis and even death.
Still, hard training would have solved that problem of course.
200 odd consecutive games at United does suggest too many 'niggles' does it?
And I believe the career was ended by a tackle on England duty.
Indeed, a considerable number of consecutive appearances for Man Utd obviously shows Coppell had a lot of niggling injuries doesn't it?
This is the man who still holds the consecutive appearance record for Man Utd incidentally, so I think he has every right to lay a challenge like this down to a player who, it seems, does pick up a number of injuries on impact with other players.