Former England winger Andros Townsend narrowly avoided injury after a heavy pitch roller ran over his left leg during a pre-match warm-up in Thailand.
The 35-year-old, who plays for Thai League 1 side PT Prachuap, was preparing for Saturday’s away fixture against Pattani when a member of the ground staff appeared to lose control of the machinery.
Townsend’s left leg became briefly trapped beneath the roller, but he escaped without injury and was able to take part in the match. He came off the bench in the closing stages as PT Prachuap secured a 3-0 victory.
The former Tottenham, Crystal Palace and Luton Town forward later shared footage of the unusual incident on Instagram, making a light-hearted comparison with his previous away trips to Stoke City.
Townsend had recently contrasted the sunny conditions at Thai football grounds with his experiences playing at Stoke’s Bet365 Stadium during his career in England. Following the roller accident, he suggested those visits to Stoke had not been quite as unpleasant as he once thought.
The winger, who earned 13 England caps, has continued his playing career in Thailand after spells with several English clubs.