Ipswich Town defender Axel Tuanzebe came “very close” to losing his thumb in a freak accident that will sideline him for “months”, says manager Kieran McKenna.
The former Manchester United centre-back sustained a deep cut to his thumb while he was washing dishes at his home in early October.
The 26-year-old DR Congo international, who had started all six of Ipswich’s Premier League matches until the injury kept him out of a 4-1 defeat by West Ham on 5 October, had surgery on his hand last week.
“It’s a household accident – very, very unfortunate and very, very serious,” McKenna said.
“He was very close to losing his thumb. He’s had surgery to repair the tendons in the thumb that was damaged; I think the recovery is going pretty well, but it’s a long-term injury.
“As much as it sounds a pretty innocuous body part regards the game of football, it’s a pretty important body part in human anatomy. He needs to let it recover.”
The Tractor Boys are without a win in their first seven Premier League fixtures since earning promotion back to the top flight.
Everton, who are one point and one place above Ipswich in 16th, visit Portman Road on Saturday (15:00 BST).
DR Congo qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations this month despite Tuanzebe’s absence from their Group H double-header against Tanzania.