Five Premier League clubs have installed virtual reality equipment designed to prevent long-term head injuries.
The clubs, including Leicester City, now possess technology that enables players to head balls in training without impact.
Research conducted by Manchester Metropolitan University has found that the use of virtual reality heading from a young age can significantly reduce the risk of dementia in later life.
The pioneering breakthrough, developed by Rezzil, has been picked up by some of the country’s top clubs and is being used at academy level — with several sides building it into the weekly schedule at their academies.