Dutch star Noa Lang has confirmed doctors have been able to rescue his thumb after he severed it on an advertising hoarding during Galatasaray’s Champions League tie with Liverpool.
Lang required surgery on his thumb after catching it between two parts of an advertising hoarding. He was given oxygen, carried back to the dressing room on a stretcher and rushed to hospital.
The 26-year-old underwent surgery last Thursday and quipped on social media: ‘S*** happens. Surgery went well! Thanks for all the messages.’
Lang has now provided an update on his recovery after joining up with the Netherlands’ squad for their upcoming friendlies.
The forward confirmed the tip of his thumb had been detached in the incident, but doctors have been able to save it following the surgery.
‘I still have my thumb, it’s still attached, and according to the doctor, it’s going to survive,’ Lang told Ziggo Sport.
Noa Lang has confirmed doctors have rescued his right thumb after undergoing surgery
Lang severed his thumb in a freak accident involving the advertising hoardings at Anfield during Galatasaray’s Champions League tie with Liverpool last week
‘My thumb got caught on a very sharp fence behind the advertising board. There was a very deep cut in it. That was no fun. Nor was seeing that on your own thumb.
‘I was well taken care of, the operations went well too, but I am still suffering from it.
‘It’s also not convenient for very normal things: I’m right-handed, so that’s not ideal in the toilet.
‘No, playing PlayStation isn’t really possible either, but luckily you play football with your feet. Besides, I get good help with everything.’
Lang had shared photos on social media of him arriving for international duty, with one image showing a large bandage around his thumb.
After posting the photos with a thumbs up caption, his team-mate Denzel Dumfries wrote ‘I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you.’
Lang is expected to miss the Netherlands’ first friendly of the international break against Norway on Wednesday, but he could return against Ecuador on March 31.
Lang had sustained the injury in the closing stages of Galatasaray’s 4-0 loss at Liverpool, a result which saw the Turkish side bow out of the Champions League.
The 26-year-old had lost balance and put his hands on the advertising hoardings to steady himself.
There was genuine concern from the Liverpool players after Lang sustained the injury
Lang was in agony and fell to the turf clutching his thumb late in the game at Anfield
Liverpool staff were seen inspecting the area where the incident occurred after the game
It soon became clear that the Dutchman was in complete agony and the faces of pitch-side photographers revealed the horrifying extent of the damage.
Lang caught his thumb between two parts of the advertising hoarding before they slammed shut. He immediately fell to the turf in pain, clutching his blood-soaked thumb on his right hand.
Galatasaray announced post-match that they were considering legal action.
‘We made a complaint to UEFA representatives after the match. They also made their investigations. UEFA will evaluate the issue,’ Galatasaray general secretary Eray Yazga said via HTSpor.
‘We are in talks with lawyers. We will file a lawsuit for compensation to UEFA. We will ask for our victimisation in terms of salary to be eliminated.’
