Stoke City suffered bizarre pet-related injury that forced him to miss a game in 2008

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We’ve all suffered an embarrassing injury from time-to-time.

One of those where you wish to hide yourself from the embarrassment and hope to never speak about it again.

For professional footballers though, they don’t get out of the limelight easily and even the most embarrassing of injuries can become public.

That’s what happened to one Stoke City star on the eve of his side’s Premier League game against Portsmouth in 2008.

• READ MORE: Sol Campbell once walked out on Notts County 29 days into a five-year contract

Stoke City star injured by pet dog before Premier League game

It was an ordinary night for Stoke midfielder Liam Lawrence in 2008 until he tripped over his pet dog.

Lawrence was left on the floor and was forced to go for an X-ray which thankfully showed that there was no break, but he was forced to sit out of the game against Portsmouth.

Speaking to the media in 2008, Tony Pulis said: “He has stepped over his dog on the stairs and his ankle just gave way and he went over on it.

“The initial scan has shown no break but we have sent him back for another x-ray to make sure.

“We don’t know how serious it is at the moment, he may be okay for Portsmouth, but then again he may not be fit. We will have to wait and see.”

Football’s strangest injuries

The former Potters man isn’t the only one to fall victim to some strange injuries over the years.

For example, Chelsea goalkeeper Dave Beasant dropped a 2kg jar of salad cream on his foot in 1993, which essentially ended his career.

Meanwhile, former Liverpool defender Michael Stensgaard dislocated his shoulder while moving an ironing board and in 1975, Manchester United goalkeeper Alex Stepney dislocated his jaw while shouting at his defenders during a game against Birmingham City.

Some truly bizarre injuries to say the least.