Ahead of the 2016/17 Premier League we look at players whose absence last season affected their teams, and how their return for the new season could improve the fortunes of their clubs.
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Vincent Kompany
Vincent Kompany will be relieved to see the back of 2015/16 and hoping to start afresh under Pep Guardiola in the new campaign.
The Manchester City captain was restricted to 14 Premier League appearances last season, having never made fewer than 25 for the Citizens in seven straight campaigns.
Perhaps of greater frustration for Kompany was the number of setbacks, making several brief comebacks from injury before his season was ended for the final time in March.
City’s fortunes are very much affected by Kompany’s fitness. Without their captain last season, City’s win ratio fell to 45.8%, compared with 57.1% when he was in the side.
City boasted an average of two points per match when Kompany played, 0.4 more than when he didn’t.
Man City’s 2015/16 with and without Kompany
| With Kompany | Without Kompany | |
| 14 | Matches | 24 |
| 8 | Wins | 11 |
| 57.1% | Win % | 45.8% |
| 2 | Pts per match | 1.6 |
Had the 30-year-old been ever-present for the season, that points difference extended over the course of the season would have meant City enjoyed a total 76 points and second place, instead of fourth.
Kompany’s defensive impact is further highlighted by the fact that, of his 14 PL appearances, he was involved in nine of City’s 16 clean sheets across the course of the season.
Pep Guardiola and Kompany will be hoping the 30-year-old can provide a much bigger role for City in 2016/17.
