The Premier League season begins on 21 August - just 33 days after the World Cup final. For some clubs, that leaves barely enough time to welcome players back from the mandatory three-week post-tournament break required under Fifa regulations, let alone integrate them into pre-season preparations. And Manchester City and Arsenal have their own concerns after seeing more players than any other Premier League club reach the latter stages of the competition. The World Cup may be over, but its impact on the Premier League is only just beginning. Given the differing physical demands on footballers, this piece focuses on the impact on outfield players.