Murray brings in Balotelli fitness guru to cure injury woes
ANDY MURRAY has put his faith in a sports ‘reconditioning’ guru who has treated top footballers and rugby players as he attempts to put long-term injury problems behind him. The two-time Wimbledon winner is currently in Philadelphia, where his rehab work has come under the supervision of Bill Knowles, whose techniques have attracted athletes from around the world. Knowles, who describes himself as a specialist in ‘reconditioning and athletic development’ has worked in the past with, among many others, footballers Mario Balotelli, Danny Welbeck and Callum Wilson, plus England rugby legend Jonny Wilkinson. Murray has given little away about the treatment he has been receiving for his hip trouble, especially since having surgery in early January. Since Wimbledon Murray has paid four visits to the HP Sports centre just outside Philadelphia and he is there again having drawn a line under another troubled season when he pulled out of the Beijing Open last month. The 31-year-old Scot has also been consulting Middlesbrough FC doctor Bryan English, who used to work with Chelsea. Murray’s ever closer links to the centre in Pennsylvania are said to have raised the possibility of changes among his support staff. On his website Knowles draws a distinction between rehabilitation and his favoured approach of reconditioning. ‘Unfortunately, I find many rehabilitation protocols are more centred on what an athlete CAN’T do versus what an athlete CAN do,’ he writes. ‘This is often designed to protect the healing tissue, but I find the limitations imparted compromise the short and long-term movement qualities of the athlete. ‘Reconditioning is a performance-based model that values a longer preparation period, NOT an earlier return to competition.’ HP Sports, where Knowles is based, boasts former clients including Real Madrid, Tiger Woods, Frank Lampard and John Terry. Murray revealed his latest visit to Philadelphia by reposting a photo of himself there with a group of recreational tennis players with whom he offered to have a hit.