accident

Players’ injuries are usually announced through official club channels or a manager’s news conference.

But a planned appearance by Manchester United striker Matheus Cunha to turn on the Christmas lights in Altrincham has sparked injury concerns among fans.

The Brazil forward had been due to attend the event alongside Sam Aston – who plays Chesney on Coronation Street – on Saturday evening, just two days before United host Everton in the Premier League on Monday.

However, just hours before the festive extravaganza, organisers Visit Altrincham said in a Facebook post that Cunha would not be attending “due to medical reasons” as the player “had an accident in training”.

United have not yet confirmed any further details or whether this will affect Cunha’s availability for the Everton match.

BBC Sport has contacted United for comment. It is understood the appearance was not arranged through the club.

Cunha, who signed for £62.5m from Wolves in the summer, has played a key role in United’s resurgence this season – with Ruben Amorim’s side unbeaten in their past five games.

He scored his first goal for the club in a 4-2 win over Brighton in October and played in both of Brazil’s friendlies in the recent international window.

On Friday, head coach Amorim confirmed striker Benjamin Sesko would be out until the middle of next month with a knee injury.

If Cunha is not available for Monday’s game, it would force Amorim into a major reshuffle.

Mason Mount would come into contention, but Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee could also be drafted into Amorim’s starting line-up for the first time this season in the Premier League.

It also raises the possibility of a call-up for England Under-20 international Shea Lacey, who has impressed in United’s Premier League 2 squad this season.

One soldier was injured Thursday morning after an explosion occurred inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, officials said.

The explosion took place at 9:20 a.m. on the western front of the DMZ in Paju, just northwest of Seoul, for unknown reasons, according to officials.

A 24-year-old Army staff sergeant, who was on a mission to detect land mines on the southern side of the inter-Korean border at the time, sustained what is presumed to be an ankle fracture due to the blast.

He was wearing anti-mine protective gear and sustained non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.

Military authorities are investigating the exact cause of the accident.

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