Top five freak football injuries

By Liam Apicella, Features Editor | 20 February 2012

Valencia's Ever Banega has become the latest footballer to suffer a freak injury. Here, Sports Mole picks five other footballers that have suffered a similar misfortune.

Valencia midfielder Ever Banega is facing six months on the sidelines because of a broken ankle.

What will make the injury even harder to take for the Argentine is the fact that it was of his own doing. The 23-year-old failed to apply the handbrake on his car when he stopped for petrol, resulting in the vehicle trapping his foot.

With Banega's misfortune in mind, Sports Mole has put together a top five of freak injuries suffered by footballers.

Steve Morrow

Having scored the winning goal in the 1993 League Cup final for Arsenal, Morrow was understandably pleased with his contribution. However, the afternoon ended sourly for defender when he suffered a broken collarbone in the post-match celebrations. Skipper Tony Adams attempted to pick Morrow up but only succeeded in dropping the now 41-year-old to the floor. The injury prevented Morrow from collecting his medal, as well as ruling him out for the remainder of the season.

David James

The veteran Bristol City goalkeeper has made a reputation for himself as 'Calamity James'. Perhaps the 41-year-old's biggest howler arrived when he strained ligaments in his back while reaching for the television remote. The injury kept him out of action for a couple of weeks.

David Batty

Former England, Newcastle United and Leeds United midfielder Batty was a renowned hard man on the pitch. However, Batty was powerless to prevent his three-year-old son from running over his foot with a tricycle. The incident caused damage to Batty's Achilles tendon, ruling him out for a number of matches.

Leroy Lita

Lita spent several weeks on the sidelines with a pulled muscle in his leg during 2007. The injury was not sustained out on the pitch or in a training session though. The then Reading striker sustained the problem after an early morning stretch in bed.

Chic Brodie

While playing for Brentford against Colchester United in November 1970, goalkeeper Brodie had his standing leg taken away by a dog that had got on to the field of playing, knocking the shot stopper to the ground and breaking his knee cap. Brodie, who passed away in 2000, never played professional football again.