Stabbing puts West Ham player in hospital

A PREMIER League footballer’s career was shrouded in uncertainty yesterday as he lay in hospital with serious stab injuries to his legs.

Two men were arrested following the attack on West Ham player Calum Davenport and his mother in the early hours of Saturday 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, who was a multi-million pound signing and an England under-21 international, underwent emergency surgery yesterday.

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 and taken to Bedford for questioning, police said.

A spokeswoman for the force said a 19-year-old man arrested soon after the incident remained in custody in Greyfriars police station.

Neighbours described “noisy” scenes before emergency services arrived at the three-bedroomed semi-detached house.

Ann Desics, 61, described how she saw a pool of blood outside the house following an argument.

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.”

Desics said Davenport’s mother, who she knew as Kim, had lived in the house for one year.

She said Davenport had bought the property for his mother and he and his sister Cara visited regularly.

Davenport cost West Ham £3 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.

Meanwhile, the man punched in a nightclub by England football star Steven Gerrard is launching a civil action against the player and six of his friends, it emerged yesterday.

Mr Gerrard was cleared of affray last month following the attack on businessman Marcus McGee, but six of the Liverpool midfielder’s friends received suspended jail terms and community service.