Premier League star missed game after almost losing thumb in freak WASHING UP accident

Ipswich Town defender Axel Tuanzebe missed his side's 4-1 defeat against West Ham on Saturday after suffering a nasty cut on a broken glass while doing the washing up

Former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe needed surgery to save his thumb after sustaining a serious injury while washing up.

Tuanzebe had started every Premier League match for Ipswich this season before missing Saturday’s game against West Ham. The 26-year-old was a key player in the Tractor Boys’ promotion campaign from the Championship and was missed at the London Stadium, where Kieran McKenna’s side were thrashed 4-1.

Speaking after the match, the Ipswich boss said Tuanzebe was unavailable after a “very unfortunate accident” which had resulted in a hand injury. The Daily Mail reports that the right-back injured himself while doing the washing up at home.

A glass that Tuenzebe was cleaning smashed in his hands and one of the shards lacerated his skin. He required urgent medical attention, but thankfully he didn’t lose his thumb, with the surgery successful.

It remains to be seen how long Tuanzebe will be sidelined for. Ipswich are unlikely to have him back by October 19, when they face Everton in a huge match at the bottom of the Premier League table. McKenna’s side are yet to pick up a win in the league and he has admitted Tuanzebe will be a miss.

“He's done a hand injury, a very unfortunate accident,” he said on Saturday. “He's had surgery and will be out for a while. It's not going to be a couple of weeks, probably longer. There are still discussions with the specialists.

“He's naturally a miss with the way he's started the season. He's going to be out for a little while. We're going to have to adjust and regroup as a team."

Tuanzebe joined Ipswich in September 2023 after spending time on loan from United with Stoke City. He came through the United academy system, showing great promise, but only made 37 first-team appearances, with three loan spells to Aston Villa followed by time at Napoli and Stoke. He’s now settled at Ipswich, who extended his contract for another year over the summer, and will hope to recover quickly from his hand injury.

Tuanzebe is not the first footballer to sustain an injury in an innocuous way. Dave Beasant tore a tendon in his big toe by dropping a bottle of salad cream on his foot, while fellow goalkeeper Richard Wright suffered an ankle injury putting suitcases away in his loft.

McKenna has a lot of work to do over the international break after his side were thrashed by West Ham, who had been winless at home before Saturday. "Everyone is out there with the right intent but it is how we cover each action,” he said. “I don't think it is anything we don't know but the game can change very, very quickly for a team in our position. When you drop your level the game can get away from you very quickly."

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