I injured myself while preparing chicken - Harrison Afful
A sliced nerve suffered by Ghana defender Harrison Afful during an attempt to prepare chicken is the latest in a long line of bizarre off-the-pitch injuries suffered by a professional footballer.
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Afful's club, Columbus Crew disclosed that he was back in training on Monday after undergoing surgery to repair a sliced nerve in his hand.
The injury forced the 30-year-old to miss Crew’s 1-0 loss to Chicago but the former Kotoko fullback has now opened up about how he cut his hand.
Afful in an interview with dispatch.com said he was home preparing food when he accidentally cut his left hand.
“I cut myself trying to prepare chicken,” Afful said.
Asked if he cooks often, Afful laughed and replied, “I try to”.
Below are other bizarre injuries suffered by professional footballers courtesy guardian.co.uk;
Roy Carroll The West Ham goalkeeper was collecting balls from a goal during training when his foot got caught in the net and injured his knee.
Richard Wright Wright was ruled out of Everton's FA Cup fourth-round replay at Chelsea after suffering a freak injury during the warm-up. Wright ignored a notice warning him not to practise in the goalmouth and promptly fell over the sign, suffering a twisted ankle. He also damaged his shoulder falling through a loft as he was trying to pack away his suitcases.
Rio Ferdinand During his spell at Leeds, the England defender managed to pick up a tendon strain in his knee watching television. Ferdinand had his foot up on a coffee table for a number of hours and ended up injured.
Sean Flynn The then-Kidderminster captain suffered a broken nose, busted lip and bruised toes after tripping over his son's toy cars.
Dave Beasant The veteran goalkeeper managed to rule himself out for eight weeks in 1993 when he dropped a bottle of salad cream on his foot, severing the tendon in his big toe.
David James The England goalkeeper once pulled a muscle in his back when reaching for the television remote control. The keen angler also tweaked his shoulder when trying to land a monster carp.
Alex Stepney In 1975 the Manchester United goalkeeper dislocated his jaw while shouting at his defenders during a match against Birmingham.
Chic Brodie The Brentford goalkeeper's career came to an abrupt end in October 1970 when he collided with a dog which had run on to the pitch. Brodie shattered his kneecap while the dog got the ball. "The dog might have been a small one, but it just happened to be a solid one," he reflected.
Santiago Canizares The Spain goalkeeper missed the 2002 World Cup after accidentally shattering a bottle of aftershave in his hotel sink. A piece of glass fell on his foot, severing a tendon in his big toe.
Kasey Keller The American international knocked out his front teeth while pulling his golf clubs out of the boot of his car.
Alan Wright The diminutive former Aston Villa full-back strained his knee by stretching to reach the accelerator in his new Ferrari. He subsequently swapped the sports car for a Rover 416.
Steve Morrow The former Northern Ireland defender broke his collarbone after falling off the shoulders of Tony Adams while celebrating the 1993 League Cup final win against Sheffield Wednesday.
Svein Grondalen The Norway defender had to withdraw from an international during the 1970s after colliding with a moose while out jogging.
Alan Mullery The England star missed the 1964 tour of South America after injuring his back while brushing his teeth.
David Batty The former Leeds and Blackburn midfielder managed to re-injure his achilles tendon when he was run over by his toddler on a tricycle.
Darren Barnard The former Barnsley midfielder was sidelined for five months with a torn knee ligament after he slipped in a puddle of his puppy's urine on the kitchen floor.
Lee Hodges The then Barnet player slipped on a bar of soap in the shower and wrenched his groin.
Charlie George Arsenal's 1971 FA Cup hero managed to cut off his toe with a lawnmower.
Kieron Dyer The Newcastle midfielder damaged his left eye when he collided with a pole in training - ruling him out for two weeks.
Leroy Lita The England Under-21 international damaged a muscle while stretching after he woke up.
Michael Stensgaard The Danish goalkeeper was forced to retire after suffering an injury to his shoulder while he attempted to fold down an ironing board.
Derek Lyle The Dundee striker fell through a glass table in his home which required 16 stitches and he missed his side's Scottish Cup quarter-final against Queen of the South.
Darius Vassell The then Aston Villa striker missed several games after he drilled through his toe nail with a home power drill thinking it would relieve the pressure on a swollen toe. The attempt at DIY surgery succeeded only in giving the toe an infection which required medical attention.
Kevin Kyle The Kilmarnock striker spent a night in hospital in 2006 when his eight-month-old son kicked a jug of boiling water over his crotch.
Liam Lawrence The Stoke midfielder fell down the stairs and injured his ankle after tripping over his dog.
