Amari’ Bell joined for Charlton Athletic earlier this summer after his contract with Luton Town expired.
Bell was a constant for Luton as they won promotion to the Premier League through the play-offs and went on to appear 21 times in the top tier.
The defender has also earned 28 caps for Jamaica, elevating his status to that of an international player.
Charlton will hope that Amari’ Bell can overcome his injury problems
Bell’s influence on the Luton Town defence was severely missed following the Hatters’ relegation to League One last season.
Worryingly for the 31-year-old, this was the second consecutive season in which he suffered significantly with fitness.
The defender missed 181 days of football in 2023/24 before missing a further 83 the following season.
| Amari’i Bell’s Days Missed Through Injury, as per Transfermarkt | ||
|---|---|---|
| Season | Days Missed | Games Missed |
| 24/25 | 83 | 14 |
| 23/24 | 181 | 18 |
| 20/21 | 22 | 5 |
Bell’s hamstring problems appear to be a specific source of concern for him, and Charlton will undoubtedly be aware of this coming into next season.
Bell has never dealt with injury difficulties in his career, having started 86 of Luton’s 92 league games during his first two years at the club.
Speaking to Luton Today, the new Charlton signing discussed how his fitness issues changed his perspective on playing football.
“”It was difficult since I had previously believed I was invincible. I thought my body was unbreakable after playing so many 90-minute games in a row, but it was actually a sobering experience. I also feel compelled to not take advantage of the beautiful game and to simply enjoy every moment without taking it for granted.
Charlton have a superb defender if Amari’ Bell stays fit
Injury troubles can sometimes terminate a player’s prime, and Charlton will be hoping that isn’t the case for Bell.
At his best, he was a constant member of one of the Championship’s greatest teams, and his return to that level would be a huge coup for the Addicks.
Jones has previously maximised Bell’s ability and will be hoping that his man management skills can assist the 31-year-old recover from his current setback.
Charlton will aim for survival as its baseline goal for next season, and they will be expected to grind out results in a back-to-the-wall approach.
In certain situations, having an experienced leader who understands what it takes to win a championship will be a significant benefit.
Time will tell if Bell can stay fit, but both he and Jones are hoping that the worst of his fitness issues are behind him.
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