It has been revealed that one Manchester United academy graduate missed a Premier League match this weekend because of a “freak” accident.
Manchester United’s poor start to the season continued this week with back-to-back draws with Porto and Aston Villa.
It means the Red Devils have now failed to win any of their last five games in all competitions, which has piled huge pressure on manager Erik ten Hag.
United now sit 14th in the Premier League table, and just below them in 17th is Ipswich Town, who have also failed to win any of their last five after a 4-1 defeat to West Ham on Saturday.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 11 |  BrentfordBrentford | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 10 |
| 12 |  West HamWest Ham | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 11 | -1 | 8 |
| 13 |  B’mouthBournemouth | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 10 | -2 | 8 |
| 14 |  Man UtdManchester United | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | -3 | 8 |
| 15 |  LeicesterLeicester | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 12 | -3 | 6 |
| 16 |  EvertonEverton | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 15 | -8 | 5 |
| 17 |  IpswichIpswich | 7 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 14 | -8 | 4 |
The Tractor Boys are managed by former United coach Kieran McKenna, who has been suggested as a potential replacement for Ten Hag. After joining Ipswich, McKenna drew on his United connections and signed academy graduate Axel Tuanzebe.
Axel Tuanzebe at Man United
Axel Tuanzebe will be remembered fondly by United fans after he rose through the academy ranks to become an established member of the first team.
He made a total of 37 appearances for the Red Devils and is well remembered for a superb display against Paris Saint-Germain where he came out on top against Kylian Mbappe in the Champions League.
Tuanzebe made his breakthrough under Jose Mourinho but played more regularly under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
He was released by United in 2023 under Ten Hag after being loaned out to Aston Villa, Napoli and Stoke City.
Now at Ipswich, he has become a key player under McKenna and was recently praised for locking down one of the best Premier League wingers.
Tuanzebe had started every Premier League game for McKenna’s Ipswich this season until this Saturday’s clash against West Ham.
Axel Tuanzebe requires surgery after ‘freak’ accident
Ipswich had to cope without Tuanzebe in their 4-1 defeat to West Ham, with McKenna stating they were without the 26-year-old because he had surgery on his hand.
It has now been revealed by the Daily Mail that Tuanzebe suffered a “freak” accident in the kitchen where he almost lost his thumb.
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The report adds that Tuanzebe suffered the injury when washing the dishes. A glass smashed which lacerated his hand and required immediate medical attention.
McKenna described it as an “unfortunate accident” on Saturday and revealed that Tuanzebe is set to be out for longer than “a couple of weeks”.
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