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'It's Not Happening Anymore': Heckingbottom Bans Preston Players from Personal Trainers

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'It's Not Happening Anymore': Heckingbottom Bans Preston Players from Personal Trainers

We know that managers can be strict disciplinarians, from banning tomato ketchup to not allowing players to be present at the birth of their children.

Well, Paul Heckingbottom is the latest manager to introduce a unique rule at his club. No more personal trainers.

Welcome to North End, Daniel Jebbison. 🇨🇦

We're delighted to confirm the striker will join on loan from @afcbournemouth on 7th July 2025.#pnefc
— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) June 21, 2025

Preston's Daniel Jebbison, who joined the club in the summer on loan from Premier League side Bournemouth, had been putting in extra work away from the club with a private personal trainer.

Eager to be in the best condition possible for the upcoming campaign, unfortunately, Jebbison picked up an injury during one of these sessions, which has left his club manager seething.

"It's an accident, I get it, but it's not happening anymore with any Preston players."

Paul Heckingbottom GOING IN on personal trainers after Daniel Jebbison picked up an injury working with one, ruling him out for a month 🤒pic.twitter.com/tB8UD4NdbA
— Second Tier podcast (@secondtierpod) August 11, 2025

Heckingbottom's Argument

During his press conference after Preston's 1-1 opening day draw with QPR in the Championship, Heckingbottom was asked about Jebbison's absence from the squad and said:

I am angry about that one. He's been working with a fella called Tom King Personal Trainer, and it's an accident and I get it, but it's not happening anymore with any Preston players. They work with these players and post them all over social media, and are happy to take their money, but don't give us any money back when players are injured during their sessions. It's professional players trying to better themselves and I get that, but my anger is with the people who work with them and don't suffer when they injure players.

Heckingbottom referenced an issue last season when former goalkeeper Freddie Woodman got injured in a similar manner, and he has now taken a firm stand on the matter.

The Response From Fans

The Preston manager's decisive action has gathered mixed reviews from the fanbase, and wider football world.

A doctor who was head of Liverpool strength and conditioning is not going to unnecessarily injure players. Very bold from hecky.. who inured the rest?
— cj (@cjslat3r) August 11, 2025

Some believe that Jebbison is naturally used to a higher level of training and resources from his time at Bournemouth, and that by hiring a personal trainer is trying to bridge that gap.

Another fan added that bizarre injuries are part and parcel of football, and that a player getting injured during training is unfortunately part of the game.

While other fans are in disbelief that a player is able to undertake these sessions with his current or parent club signing off on it.

The new book, '101 ways to screw up a loan move' by Daniel Jebbison, available soon via all good retailers . . . #watfordfc https://t.co/zBCTUaKss7
— Andrew French (@androofrench) August 11, 2025

Dr Tom King, the performance coach named by Heckingbottom in the press conference, was a former first-team fitness coach at Liverpool, and recently shared a training video with Jebbison on his Instagram page. The comments on the post show a number of disgruntled Preston fans voicing their displeasure.