Ex Man Utd defender undergoes surgery after washing dishes sparks ghastly injury

Former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe had to undergo surgery to save his thumb after a serious injury sustained while washing up.

Tuanzebe, who has been a regular starter for Ipswich in every Premier League match this season, was noticeably absent from Saturday's game against West Ham. The 26-year old-played a crucial role in Ipswich's promotion from the Championship and his absence was felt at the London Stadium, where Kieran McKenna's side suffered a 4-1 defeat.

Post-match, the Ipswich boss revealed that Tuanzebe was unavailable due to a "very unfortunate accident" resulting in a hand injury. According to the Daily Mail, the right-back injured himself while doing household chores.

The incident occurred when a glass Tuenzebe was cleaning shattered glass in his hands, causing a laceration. He needed immediate medical attention, but fortunately, he didn't lose his thumb and the surgery was successful.

It is yet to be determined how long Tuanzebe will be out of action. It seems unlikely that Ipswich will have him back by October 19, when they face Everton in a crucial match at the bottom of the Premier League table.

McKenna's side are still seeking their first league win and he acknowledged that Tuanzebe's absence will be felt.

"He's done a hand injury, a very unfortunate accident," he commented 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 following his time on loan at Stoke City from United.