English Manager Explodes at 'Social Media' Trainers Following Canadian Star's Devastating Injury
The opening weekend of England's Championship campaign witnessed numerous North American players returning to competitive action, though Daniel Jebbison was notably absent—much to the frustration of Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom.
Despite Preston securing a 1–1 stalemate with Queens Park Rangers, Heckingbottom couldn't utilize his marquee signing up front, as the Canada international sustained an injury during training sessions with an external fitness coach away from the team setup.
The 21-year-old forward is now anticipated to remain sidelined for approximately four weeks.
"I'm absolutely furious about this situation," Heckingbottom expressed to the BBC. "There's an increasing pattern of players seeking assistance from external sources. While I understand accidents occur, this won't be tolerated with any Preston squad members moving forward."
Despite Jebbison's history of serious injuries during his stint at AFC Bournemouth, this recent setback stems from additional training undertaken with personal coach Tom King, who frequently features Jebbison in fitness content shared on Instagram.
King has also documented training sessions with American defender Marlon Fossey from Standard Liege in Belgium, plus England international Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, currently playing for Besiktas in Turkey.
"These trainers collaborate with players and broadcast their sessions across social platforms to advance their enterprises," Heckingbottom continued. "They're content to accept payment, yet offer no compensation when their training causes player injuries.
"They won't be advertising on social media that Jebbo will miss a month of action, so I'm making it clear that when they train players, they can also cause harm."
The practice of athletes seeking external training support has expanded in recent years, with global superstars frequently appearing in social media posts while training with renowned fitness specialists.
Nevertheless, Heckingbottom clarified he doesn't oppose additional training, but questions the responsibility shown toward athletes whose substantial salaries are funded by their clubs.
"I'm not criticizing Jebbo," he stated regarding the four-cap Canada international. "If these trainers signed documentation guaranteeing they'd cover his salary during injury periods, they could work with him daily. If they provided written assurance saying, 'We have insurance coverage for this, or we'll provide a replacement striker,' then no issues—train with him constantly. But they don't... there's zero accountability."
Preston's upcoming Championship fixture is against Leicester City on Aug. 16, while Jebbison aims to rejoin Canada's roster for September friendlies versus Wales and Romania.