West Ham defender Calum Davenport’s career was shrouded in uncertainty today after he was hospitalised with serious stab injuries to his legs. Two men have been arrested the attack on the England under-21 players and his mother in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Davenport, 26, and his 49-year-old mother were both injured in the incident at his mother’s home in Bedford and taken to hospital. The footballer underwent emergency surgery yesterday morning.
Neither his nor his mother’s injuries were thought to be life-threatening but both were detained in hospital overnight.
A spokesman for Bedford Hospital said: “His condition is serious but stable and his mother is in a stable condition.”
A 25-year-old man was arrested in Derby on suspicion of attempted murder yesterday afternoon and taken to Bedford for questioning, Bedfordshire Police said.
A spokeswoman for the force said a 19-year-old man arrested soon after the incident remained in custody at the town’s Greyfriars police station.
Neighbours on leafy Springfield Avenue described “noisy” scenes before emergency services arrived at the three-bedroomed semi-detached house.
Ann Desics, 61, described how she had seen a pool of blood outside the house yesterday morning following an argument in the street.
She said: “I knew somebody had been assaulted but I did not know who. When I found out I was really upset and I was not sure if he was going to be all right or not, but I hope he is.”
Describing the scene, she said: “I was fast asleep in bed — it was still quite dark. I heard all this shouting and hoped they would go by. They did not and it went on.
“Then I heard this engine ticking over outside and a vehicle pulled up which turned out to be the ambulance.
“I got up to see what was going on and the ambulance was dealing with what I now know is Calum, on the floor, and the other ambulance was dealing with his mother. Then they whipped him off to hospital.
“Police cordoned off the road with tapes. All that was left was a pool of blood in the road so I thought it might be a stabbing but was not sure at the time.”
Davenport cost West Ham €4.5 million when he joined them from Tottenham during the summer of 2007.
He did not figure in the east London club’s first game of this season, at Wolves last week and, after struggling to hold down a first-team place, has been linked with a move.
The Hammers said the club’s thoughts were with the family.
A statement added: “The club’s medical team are in contact with hospital staff. The thoughts of everyone at West Ham are with Calum and his family.”
Bedford-born Davenport spent a spell on loan at Premier League rivals Sunderland last season and has also been loaned out to Watford.
The centre-back started his career at Coventry City and has also played on loan at Southampton and Norwich City.
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