surgery

Napoli midfielder Kevin de Bruyne is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on the thigh injury he sustained while scoring a penalty against Inter Milan.

The 34-year-old clutched the back of his right thigh after opening the scoring in the 33rd minute on Saturday and was substituted a few minutes later.

The Belgium playmaker was taken to hospital where scans revealed a high-grade tear to his bicep femoris, a hamstring muscle at the back of the thigh.

Napoli confirmed that De Bruyne underwent successful surgery on Wednesday in Antwerp, Belgium, and will begin the first phase of his rehabilitation in Belgium.

Reigning champions Napoli, who beat Inter Milan 3-1 to return to the top of Serie A, have not put a timeline on his return to action.

De Bruyne joined Napoli on a free transfer from Manchester City in June.

He has scored four goals in eight league appearances and made a further three appearances in the Champions League.

New York Giants rookie running back Cam Skattebo had a long day Sunday, having suffered what appears to be a season-ending ankle injury and reportedly undergoing surgery that night.

Nonetheless, the player who has become one of the breakout stars of the 2025 appeared to be up early Monday.

Skattebo took to his Instagram Story to post a video showing clips of Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, receiver Darius Slayton, defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux and offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor all expressing concern for their injured teammate following New York’s 38-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

“My guys love tall boys,” Skattebo wrote in the caption, making an apparent reference to his relatively small (by NFL standards) 5-foot-11 stature.

Skattebo was injured midway through the second quarter after attempting to catch a pass over the middle. His right foot appeared to get caught under another player and was bent in an unnatural direction. Players from both teams huddled around Skattebo in concern as he was treated by medical staff.

Even the notoriously harsh Philadelphia fans gave their NFC East rival’s rising star a standing ovation as he was carted off the field with an air cast on his leg. Skattebo responded by waving in appreciation.

“I feel absolutely terrible for the young man,” Giants coach Brian Daboll said. “Looked bad. You feel for anybody that goes down and has a really bad injury. I know the players feel the same way about Skatt.”

Dart added: “That’s my boy, man. That sucks. It’s just the worst part of the game.”

The Giants said Sunday that Skattebo had suffered a dislocated ankle and would undergo surgery that night. ESPN reported Monday morning that the fourth-round draft pick out of Arizona State remained in the hospital after the previous night’s surgery and was “doing well given the circumstances of what was described as an emergency situation.”

Skattebo leads Giants this season with 410 rushing yards in 101 carries with five touchdowns. He also has 24 receptions for 207 yards with two touchdowns, including one on an 18-yard pass from Dart in the first quarter of Sunday’s game.

Skattebo’s injury leaves New York with second-year player Tyrone Tracy Jr. and seven-year veteran Devin Singletary at running back. On Sunday, Tracy had 10 carries for 39 yards and two receptions for 14 yards while Singletary rushed twice for no yards but had a 28-yard reception.

For the season, Tracy has 45 carries for 159 yards with one touchdown and 10 catches for 68 yards; Singletary has 28 carries for 84 yards and three receptions for 28 yards.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Tiger Woods has had disc replacement surgery in the latest setback to stall his return to the PGA Tour.

The 15-time major champion has been sidelined since missing the cut at The Open in July 2024 and took to social media to announce the news.

“After experiencing pain and lack of mobility in my back, I consulted with doctors and surgeons to have tests taken,” Woods said in a statement.

“I opted to have my disc replaced yesterday, and I already know I made a good decision for my health and my back.”

Woods, 49, said that the surgery, performed by Dr Sheeraz Qureshi, could be “deemed successful”.

It was his seventh back procedure in the past decade.

In March, Woods had surgery to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon suffered while training at home. That ended his plans of making a return at the Masters the following month.

He had withdrawn from the Genesis Invitational weeks earlier following the death of his mother.

Even before then Woods had played a limited schedule, having suffering severe injuries in a car accident in February 2021.

The American did not appear on the initial player list released earlier this week for December’s Hero World Challenge, an event he hosts.

Colorado coach Deion Sanders returned to Buffaloes football practice Wednesday — just as Coach Prime said he would 24 hours earlier when he announced he would be undergoing a surgical procedure later that day related to blood clot issues.

A video posted by his eldest son, Deion Sanders, Jr., on his “Well Off Media” YouTube channel Wednesday starts with a clip of Sanders going into surgery. Then, after indicating a 16-hour time jump, the video shows Sanders walking briskly, if perhaps a little gingerly, through the Buffaloes’ indoor practice facility. He is offered a cart but apparently turns it down.

Much of the rest of the eight-minute video shows clips from the team’s practice. Sanders stays on the move, with his walking appearing a bit more labored as practice continues. Sanders is not seen at what appears to be the end of practice, as another coach addresses the players.

A spokesperson for Colorado football told The Times on Wednesday afternoon that the team expects Sanders to coach the Buffaloes on Saturday during their home game against No. 22 Iowa State.

No other information has been released on the surgery or Sanders’ condition.

During his weekly news conference Tuesday, Sanders revealed he’d be undergoing the surgical procedure — called an aspiration thrombectomy, which involves the left popliteal (located behind the knee) and tibial arteries — later that day. He said the surgery could take several hours.

“I’m going to be all right,” Sanders said. “Prayerfully, I’ll be right back tomorrow because I don’t miss practice. I don’t plan on doing such.”

On Saturday, Sanders could be seen either sitting down or limping around on the Buffaloes sideline during Colorado’s 35-21 loss to Texas Christian. He didn’t wear a shoe on his left foot during the second half and afterward told reporters he was “hurting like crazy.”

“I think I’ve got more blood clots,” said Sanders, who had two toes amputated on his left foot in 2021 because of blood clot issues and had a blood clot removed from his right leg in 2023. “I’m not getting blood to my leg. That’s why my leg is throbbing.”

The surgical procedure is said to be Sanders’ 16th in the last three years. He told reporters Tuesday that his struggles with blood clots are hereditary.

This summer, Sanders revealed that his bladder had been removed in May to address a cancerous tumor.

Janet Kukreja, Sanders’ doctor at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, told reporters at the same news conference that a section of Sanders’ intestine was reconstructed to function as a bladder and that the procedure was a success. She added that Sanders would not need radiation or chemotherapy treatments.

Sanders was a superstar cornerback in the NFL, playing for five teams over 14 years and winning two Super Bowls (with the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys). The 1994 defensive player of the year was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

As coach at Jackson State from 2020 to 2022, Sanders led the Tigers to two Southwestern Athletic Conference titles and was named the SWAC coach of the year twice. He is in his third season at Colorado, where he has coached such stars at 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter (now with the Jacksonville Jaguars) and son Shedeur Sanders (now with the Cleveland Browns).

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A SURGERY addict has spent over £100,000 to get the ‘world’s biggest bum.’

But now, pictures of Natasha Crown, 29, ‘before’ going under the knife have left the internet open-mouthed. 

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Revealing all to Truly on a recent episode of Hooked on the Look, the glamour model, who is originally from Serbia, got candid on her surgery journey.

Natasha, who is 6’1 and describes herself as an “Amazon,” said she first realised she wanted a super-sized bum at the age of 17.

Three years later, she started her cosmetic journey from an “athletic teen to a curvy goddess.”

Now, Natasha has spent over $150,000 [£111,650] going under the knife and has had five Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBL).

A Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) is a painful surgery where fat is taken from the stomach, lips, lower back, or thighs and transferred to the buttocks.

This results in an hourglass figure and a larger bum and can cost up to £8,000.

Not only is it expensive, but it is incredibly dangerous and has in some cases led to death.

But Natasha has no desire to stop surgeries any time soon, as she explained: “When I was 17, I saw a girl with a really big bum, and I was sold. 

“I have added 100lbs [7stone 1lbs] to this big bum.

“I love having big curves. Everything needs to be big.

“I love surgery and I will keep going. I’m growing my bum to be over 100 inches.”

As well as five BBLs, Natasha, who is “famous” for her big bum and believes “the bigger the booty, the better,” has also had breast implants, Botox and fillers.

When I’m out, people stare. Online, people are mean, but it doesn’t affect me

Natasha Crown

But she doesn’t have any fears the impact of such procedures will have, as she added: “I don’t have any concerns about my health.”

Getting candid on the public’s reaction to her look, Natasha claimed that her “body shape scares men.”

She continued: “When I’m out, people stare. Online, people are mean, but it doesn’t affect me.”

Discussing the reality of having such a large derrière, the content creator admitted: “Things that are difficult having this big butt – when I fly, I need to have two seats. I bump into people when I’m at restaurants.”

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Social media users gasp

YouTube users were left gobsmacked by Natasha’s surgery transformation, but were particularly stunned by her ‘before’ photos. 

One person said: “I wish she knew how beautiful her natural self was.” 

Another added: “The before is better.” 

She was gorgeous before

YouTube user

A third commented: “She was so gorgeous.” 

Meanwhile, alongside a crying emoji, someone else sobbed: “She was gorgeous before.”

Not only this, but another user chimed in and claimed: “Delusion at its finest.”

At the same time, another wrote: “The doctors should have their licenses revoked! This is insane! I could find way better things to spend all that money on!” 

Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club

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SEATTLE — When the Dodgers traded for Brock Stewart at the trade deadline, they knew he came with some risk.

But on Friday, their worst-case scenario was realized.

Stewart will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery, manager Dave Roberts announced, leaving the Dodgers without the only significant deadline addition they made to bolster their struggling bullpen.

Although the Dodgers have been managing several injury concerns — from Will Smith’s fractured hand, to Tommy Edman’s sore ankle, to leg bruises that Max Muncy revealed on Friday he has been dealing with — Stewart’s status had become among the most alarming.

Even after completing a minor-league rehab stint for a shoulder problem that had kept him out since early August, he continued to feel residual soreness.

After meeting with head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache this week, Stewart and the team decided surgery would be best. According to general manager Brandon Gomes, the 33-year-old is having a debridement procedure that should allow him to pitch the “majority” of next season, when he will still be under Dodgers control.

But for this October, the club will have to proceed without him.

“We had a lot of conversations with Brock, and he was like, ‘Hey, I want to help this team in any way possible,’” Gomes said. “But watching him throw and just having the conversations with him, there was still something that was just bothering him. As much as we would love to have him right now, we don’t want to put his long-term health at risk.”

Shoulder problems are nothing new for Stewart. Last season, he made just 16 appearances with the Minnesota Twins before undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery in August.

While this latest injury is not believed to be directly related to last year’s issue, Gomes did acknowledge that “any time you’re taking on a pitcher, we understand that there are risks.”

It’s not that the Dodgers overpaid for Stewart, giving up only former prospect James Outman in their deadline deal with the Twins. But, by not adding a bigger name in a bullpen that had been slumping even before the deadline (and has further spiraled in the two months since), the Dodgers put a lot of eggs in the right-hander’s basket. He was supposed to give the unit some experienced stability. Now, he leaves yet another hole to fill.

Without Stewart, the Dodgers’ right-handed relief hierarchy is somewhat unclear. They still have longtime stalwart Blake Treinen, but he has posted a career-worst 5.47 ERA and dealt with first-half arm troubles. Hard-throwing rookie Edgardo Henriquez has a 2.50 ERA in 21 appearances, but still has just 21⅓ career innings in the big leagues. And then there’s Roki Sasaki, the rookie Japanese phenom who returned from a nearly five-month shoulder injury with an auspicious inning out of the bullpen this week.

Another name that could enter the mix: Starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan, who was scheduled to pitch Friday’s series-opener against the Seattle Mariners but will likely be shifted to a multi-inning relief role out of the bullpen come the postseason.

In any event, however, Stewart’s absence will still hurt. What the Dodgers hoped would be a high-upside play, given his 2.38 ERA with the Twins this season, has instead become yet another bullpen letdown.

Kings forward Corey Perry will be sidelined for six to eight weeks after undergoing knee surgery.

The 40-year-old Perry was injured Friday while skating at his new team’s training complex, the team announced Saturday. The Kings will report for training camp in less than a week, and their season opener is Oct. 7 against Colorado.

Perry agreed to a one-year, $2-million contract laden with incentives to join the Kings this summer for his 21st NHL season. The 2011 NHL MVP spent his first 14 seasons with the Kings’ archrivals, the Anaheim Ducks, before moving on to Dallas, Montreal, Tampa Bay, Chicago and Edmonton.

Perry has played in the Stanley Cup Final in five of the last six seasons — but his team lost each time, including back-to-back losses with the Oilers to the Florida Panthers. He won a Stanley Cup title with the Ducks back in 2007.

Perry recorded 448 goals and 487 assists during his first 20 seasons, and he begins the new season 121st on the NHL’s career scoring list. He had 19 goals and 11 assists in 81 regular-season games for Edmonton last season before adding 10 goals and four assists in the playoffs.

MARRIED At First Sight star JJ Slater has revealed who he still speaks to from his series’ cast.

Currently recovering from his and hers surgeries with his girlfriend Katie Price after they jetted out to Turkey together, JJ has lifted the lid on his MAFS experience and unveiled the two people he still speaks to.

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Speaking to The Sun on behalf of Casino.org, JJ opened up about whether or not he speaks to people from his series of MAFS.

JJ appeared on Married At First Sight UK in 2023, firstly marrying Bianca Petronzi before striking up a romance with co-star Ella Morgan.

When asked if he is still in touch with anyone, he said: “Not on a basis where we would message and check in with each other, apart from with Luke and with Terence.

“There is a boys’ group chat with all the boys in there. It’s pretty quiet now.

“It was lively at first, but now it’s just like, happy birthdays.

“Or if someone’s going out, they’ll be like, I’m here, if anyone fancies a beer, stuff like that. But on a day-to-day basis, no.”

JJ’s comments on Married At First Sight UK come after he and his girlfriend Katie Price underwent his and hers surgeries.

The former glamour model, 47, and JJ had planned to go under the knife together, but he was banned from having an op.

JJ was forced to change his plans due to his Type 1 diabetes.

Last month, Katie revealed that JJ had gotten a “hair transplant” in Turkey.

She filmed her beau and shared the video on Snapchat as he underwent a Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) procedure.

He had the work done at the last minute after his plan to have his eye bags removed couldn’t go ahead.

“I went to Turkey to have the bags under my eyes done, but I couldn’t have it done,” he explained in our exclusive earlier this week.

JJ went on: “I was all in the gown, wearing the knee-high socks, ready to go down. But my blood sugars were flagged.

“I got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after the show, actually.

“So yeah, my blood sugars, there was a reading in my blood that they weren’t happy with, so they didn’t do the procedure. So recovery was fine, as it didn’t happen.”

Speaking about his diabetes diagnosis, JJ said it “was definitely one of the biggest life-changing things since the show”.

He went on: “Type 1 is an autoimmune disease, so I’ve done a lot of research into it.

“One of the potential triggers can be stress – not scientifically proven, but it does make you wonder, given everything going on around that time.”

He added: “I was 31, had never had any issues before, and suddenly I was really ill for about two months. But being a typical bloke, I just ignored it, thinking it would go away.

“But then, when I did get really ill, my dad was like, mate, you’ve got to get yourself to the hospital.”

Recalling when he was diagnosed, JJ said that he lost nearly two stone and was really thirsty.

“It’s a bit disgusting, but I was also passing blood in my urine,” he explained.

“That was the biggest trigger for me – that was when I told myself I had to get myself to get checked out.

“But since then, it has helped me. Now I’m more focused on what I eat because I have to, and I try to be a lot healthier.”

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England flanker Tom Curry has undergone wrist surgery and will miss the start of the new Premiership season with Sale, but could be fit for the Autumn Nations Series in November.

Curry had an operation on a long-standing wrist ligament injury after returning from the British and Irish Lions’ series victory in Australia and will be absent for the start of Sale’s campaign, which begins against Gloucester on Thursday, 25 September.

But he has an outside chance of being fit for England’s autumn fixtures against Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina.

“You are more likely to see him in an England shirt than you are a Sale shirt,” said Sale’s director of rugby Alex Sanderson.

“His return to play sits him somewhere around the Autumn Internationals.

“But you never know. He has a habit of defying comeback dates and what surgeons say. He’s on good form, healing well, dead positive.”

Curry navigated his way through six matches for the Lions despite his wrist injury.

He revealed he had a new cast fitted in Australia following the Lions’ shock defeat by Argentina in Dublin.

“We had this cast which we had to change in Sydney, because we realised that I wasn’t actually catching many balls,” he said.

“We had this thick one that covered my palm and it was really tough because I had to catch [the ball] with my fingertips. I remember playing in the Argentina game and I kept dropping it.”

England begin their campaign against Australia at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, 1 November.

DeShaun Foster is a beloved Bruin, so the doubts of his being in over his head as the UCLA football coach are merely whispered. Attending a recent panel discussion, I heard Times columnist Bill Plaschke refer to Coach Foster as “a placeholder.” Saturday’s game against Utah only solidified both perceptions. In today’s college football landscape there are plenty of teams who use the transfer portal to be competitive while building toward something better. One game in, UCLA appears to be failing miserably to do so. As a 42-year season-ticket holder and alumnus, the football program, its fans, and the university deserve so much more.

Eric Forseth
Murrieta

All we heard from UCLA preseason was Nico, Nico, Nico [Iamaleava]. After watching his performance against unranked Utah, he has to be the most overrated transfer in the country. Add in the fact that the defense was absolutely pathetic, it’s another losing season. Rose Bowl you better order more tarps.

Joe Novak
La Crescenta

As I walked out of the UCLA-Utah football game in disgust in the fourth quarter after watching an uninspired and incompetent defense and a team that looked, frankly, soft, I had to smile as the PA system in the Rose Bowl appropriately blasted the song “Build Me Up Buttercup.” Uninspired and untalented. Basically, buttercups.

Alan Abajian
Alta Loma

Will somebody please explain to the Bruin defense that it is called TACKLE football??

Steve Cizmar
Huntington Beach

After UCLA’s humiliating, devastating and humbling 43-10 loss to Utah in the season opener, coach DeShaun Foster said, “We were close.”

Close to what, Division II?

Jack Wolf
Westwood

IMOGEN Thomas has given fans a health update as she returned to social media with her first snap since undergoing breast reduction surgery.

The former Big Brother star, 42, posted a fresh-faced selfie as she gave her followers a glimpse of her surgery day.

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She thanked fans for their support as she adjusts to life after surgery.

Imogen shared snaps taken before the op – posing in her gown while consulting with her surgeon and getting marked up.

She later posted a hospital bed selfie post-surgery, bandaged up but smiling, giving the camera a thumbs up.

She wrote on Instagram: “It’s been 5 days since I’ve had my surgery and this in journey has been incredible.

“Do you wanna see how my breasts look on day 7? So u can see step by step what is expected.

“I’m blown away by all your messages and your investment in this as so many of you want to get it done and I’m so happy my journey is helping you x”.

Imogen revealed she was getting a boob job as she said: “Hi everyone, so I just wanted to pop on and tell you a bit of news in my life.

“I am going to Istanbul on Monday for breast augmentation. I cannot wait, my boobs right now are really big for me.

“I’ve lost quite a bit of weight and I just can’t have this anymore.

“So I found the best surgeon in Istanbul.”

She continued: “I had a great video consultation with him and I’m flying out. I’m getting them done.

“I’m going smaller and I’m getting an uplift and I cannot wait to show you guys the results in my dresses, in my workout wear. I cannot wait to feel body confident again.

“Like the excitement is literally unreal. I can’t believe I found the time to go for a start, which is great.”

Imogen ended by saying: “So yeah, cannot wait to show you guys. It’s something that I’m super excited about and yeah, you’re going to see a lot in the next few days.”

Big Brother winners from over the years

Since launching in 2000, reality TV juggernaut Big Brother has crowned several champions over the years. Let’s take a look back at some of them.

The former glamour model remained in the spotlight ever since her stint in the famous house and even had an affair with a VERY famous footballer.

The former Miss Wales lasted 86 days in the Big Brother house, becoming good pals with the late Nikki Grahame and fellow Welshman Glyn Wise, who finished runner-up behind Pete Bennett.

As soon as she was evicted she was commanding five-figure sums for racy lads’ mag shoots — and was named Wales’s Sexiest Woman.

Since then, she has been known for her sexy photo shoots over the years.

She was also seen at the swankiest showbiz parties and dated high-profile footballers, including a heavily publicised affair with married Wales and Man Utd star Ryan Giggs, who placed a gagging order on her.

Once news of the relationship broke, she publicly apologised for the affair.

At the time, she said: “I called it off a million times but he kept coming back.

“He knew it was wrong as well, he said as much, but he was pursuing me.”

Imogen now boasts a property empire worth £10million.

The mum-of-two insisted that fame “doesn’t last forever” and urged new reality stars to “take every opportunity” that comes their way.

“What you get offered take because beggars can’t be choosers at the end of the day,” Imogen said.

“When I was on the show, there were so many magazines that I could be modelling for and I was for like 10 years straight. I had so many contracts with them.”

She continued to the Metro: “Yes, you’ve got social media and I work on that now and I’m making thousands a post but brands are a little bit more cautious now and they don’t want to be paying the money anymore.

“So for me, I would just say take whatever you can get and make good of the situation because it does dry out.”

She also told The Sun: “I came off the show and I just started working from day one. It was amazing, I made a lot of money.

“It was just all a bit surreal because I went in as a hostess and came out just making all this money and being wanted by everyone.

“It was pretty crazy to get your head around. But I loved it.

“I was in there for three months, no contact with the outside world, then all of a sudden everyone knows you, and you’ve got to get used to the fame.”

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Gordon Ramsay has a message for you this holiday weekend: wear sunscreen.

The Michelin-starred celebrity chef posted Saturday on Instagram that he was diagnosed with skin cancer and had the basal cell carcinoma removed from the side of his face.

Ramsay shared two photos, one of a bandage stretching from his cheek to his neck. Another, a close-up, showed stitch marks directly below his earlobe.

“Grateful and so appreciative for the incredible team at The Skin Associates and their fast reactive work on removing this Basal Cell Carcinoma thank you! Please don’t forget your sunscreen this weekend,” Ramsay wrote in the caption.

His post was not without humor: “I promise you it’s not a face lift! I’d need a refund …” he said.

Ramsay — the host, most recently, of the reality TV show “Hell’s Kitchen” — has not been shy about sharing his health issues on social media, as well as offering cautionary advice to his followers. Last year he posted a video on Instagram after he was in a bicycle accident in Connecticut. In the video, the Scottish-born restaurateur lifted his white chef coat and pointed to expansive bruising on his torso. He urged his followers to “WEAR A HELMET.”

Skin cancers are among the most common cancers diagnosed worldwide, according to the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer. More than 1.5 million new cases were estimated in 2022.

Basal cell carcinoma in particular, which Ramsay was diagnosed with, is a type of non-melanoma skin cancer and the most common overall, says Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, a double board certified dermatologist based in Dallas.

“But the good news,” Houshmand says, “is there’s a less than 1% chance of metastasis, meaning it would spread to other organs, regions. But it is a skin cancer and needs to be addressed promptly. Usually the treatment is surgical excision and that’s what Gordon Ramsay had done.”

Early detection of basal cell carcinoma, Houshmand says, is key. As are preventative measures, such as wearing sunscreen and SPF clothing.

“It’s generally slow-growing and rarely spreads to other parts of the body, and with early detection and treatment the cure rate is very high,” she says. “Always see your dermatologist if you see an irregularity that’s not going away. Don’t wait. And protect yourself — I like an SPF of 50 or greater and apply it 15 minutes before going outside.”

So if you fire up the grill this weekend — even attempting one of Ramsay’s barbecue favorites — still, make sunscreen the main course.

KAI HAVERTZ has undergone knee surgery – leaving Arsenal with just ONE fit recognised striker.

The 26-year-old has been out since picking up an injury in training – days after a 30-minute cameo off the bench in a 1-0 opening-day win over Manchester United on August 17.

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SunSport understands that Havertz has shared his time between London Colney and his native Germany, being assessed by doctors to determine the severity of the issue.

And the Gunners have since decided to take precautionary measures with Havertz going under the knife for the second time in six months.

A club statement read: “Further to sustaining a knee injury after our recent game against Manchester United on 17 August, subsequent assessments and specialist reviews with Kai confirmed that surgery would be required.

“Today, Kai underwent a successful minor surgical procedure.

“He will shortly begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme, with everyone fully focused on supporting Kai to ensure he is back to full fitness as soon as possible.”

It means Havertz will miss crunch Prem clashes against Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle, as well as the start to Arsenal’s Champions League campaign next month.

Havertz had a hamstring operation back in February that saw him only return for the final two games of last term, but this minor procedure is not expected to keep him out for a similar period.

It now leaves boss Mikel Arteta relying on summer signing Viktor Gyokeres to lead the line without any back-up for at least the next few weeks.

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CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

Gabriel Jesus – Arsenal’s third-choice No.9 – is also still on the recovery table, expected to return towards the end of 2025 after an ACL reconstruction in January.

However, Arsenal are confident that they have the squad to deal with the absence, hijacking Tottenham’s £68m deal for Eberechi Eze last week 24 hours after Havertz’s injury news.

Arteta does have options – playing midfielder Mikel Merino and winger Leandro Trossard down the middle for large parts of last season.

The Gunners are also set to be without Bukayo Saka for a number of weeks following the injury he sustained during their 5-0 thrashing of Leeds on Saturday.

While there remains uncertainty around whether Martin Odegaard will be fit to face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

The Gunners captain was forced off with a shoulder injury in the 38th minute and replaced by Ethan Nwaneri.

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Arsenal forward Kai Havertz will have surgery on a knee injury, but is not expected to be out for a significant amount of time.

The 26-year-old featured in the opening win over Manchester United from the substitutes’ bench, but missed the 5-0 victory over Leeds with the problem.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said before the Leeds match that “we need more time” before determining what course of action Havertz’s injury required.

The hope is that the Germany international will be out for weeks rather than months.

That will give Arteta some relief as he is already without winger Bukayo Saka, midfielders Martin Odegaard and Christian Norgaard, defender Ben White and forward Gabriel Jesus through injury.

Sweden international Viktor Gyokeres is the club’s only fit striker and scored his first two Premier League goals against Leeds.

Havertz’s injury accelerated Arsenal’s move for England attacker Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace and the £60m signing has started training with the Gunners.

Arsenal face champions Liverpool on Sunday at Anfield with both sides having won their opening two league matches of the season.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Angels manager Ron Washington said Monday he is recovering from quadruple bypass heart surgery, the first time he has publicly addressed the health issues that have sidelined him since late June.

He made the announcement while visiting the Angels for the first time since the operation eight weeks ago in California. He is not returning to manage this season but hopes to have that opportunity next year.

Washington, at 73 the oldest manager in the majors, was last in the dugout for a 7-3 loss to the New York Yankees on June 19. The following day, the team said Washington was out indefinitely because of health issues after experiencing shortness of breath and appearing fatigued toward the end of that four-game series in New York.

“This happened fast,” Washington said. “I wasn’t feeling very good on our last trip to New York … and I finally decided to go to the trainer and let him see what was going on. My ankles were swollen. And he called the doctors in from New York and they knew right away what was going on, why my fluid was going into my ankles.”

He was cleared by Yankees doctors to fly home with the team and underwent tests after getting back to Southern California. The Angels announced on June 27 that he was going on medical leave for the rest of the season. Washington had surgery three days later.

Washington said the Angels were on a road trip when he was released from the hospital on July 7, so he got clearance to fly home to Texas where his wife could assist him with his recovery.

The well-liked Washington revealed the details of his medical issues before the Angels opened a three-game series in Texas. He plans to continue on to Houston before skipping the final stop on the road trip in Kansas City. Washington hopes to be with the team the rest of the season after the Angels return home.

Washington is the Rangers’ winningest manager with a 664-611 record from 2007 to 2014. He led them to their first two World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011.

After initially returning to Oakland’s organization for two seasons, Washington then was on the Atlanta Braves’ staff from 2017 to 2023 and part of their 2021 World Series championship.

With a young roster after Shohei Ohtani’s departure in free agency and with three-time AL MVP Mike Trout limited to 29 games because of injuries, the Angels went 63-99 last year in Washington’s first season as manager, a franchise record for losses. They were 36-38 before Washington left the dugout this year, and entered Monday night’s game 25-31 with Ray Montgomery filling in for him.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, who led them to their first World Series title two seasons ago, is the second-oldest manager in the majors. The four-time World Series champion turned 70 in April.

Hawkins writes for the Associated Press.

TV star Sam Faiers has sparked controversy after advising her sister Billie to explore holistic options before going ahead with her young son’s tonsil removal.

Sam Faiers has come under fire after suggesting her sister Billie consider alternative health approaches instead of scheduling her son’s tonsillectomy.

In a scene from their show Sister Act, Billie explains that her eight-year-old son Arthur is set to have his tonsils removed after repeated illness. “Arthur is getting his tonsils out. He had tonsillitis I’d say six times last year, and it made him so poorly,” she says.

“When the doctor looked at them, straight away he said to me ‘nah… they are really, really unhealthy tonsils.” She adds: “But tonsils serve no purpose in your body.” It comes after Sam’s heartache after cruel thieves stole her late grandmother’s precious wedding ring.

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Sam, who later says she leans toward holistic health, disagrees with the decision and encourages testing for allergies first. “Everything in your body serves a purpose,” she argues.

“When you’re not well and something inflames in your body or your tonsils are raised or your hair is falling out, or you’ve got a rash, it’s because your body is telling you something isn’t right.

“So it’s Arthur’s body’s way of telling him I’ve got an allergy, or you know, I’ve got a virus and that’s his way. So when they’re out, how else is his body going to tell you that something is wrong?”

Billie responds, agreeing that “he has some kind of allergy or intolerance.” However, Sam’s comments prompted backlash online, with critics accusing her of spreading misinformation.

One viewer wrote: “She’s no doctor and shouldn’t be allowed to give advice that’s dangerous.” Another labelled her “Mrs Know It All.”

Another user shared a personal warning as they wrote: “Don’t ever mess about waiting for tonsils out… I was rushed into hospital because it made me so ill. I’ve had fibromyalgia for 15 years, and now severe arthritis. I wish I could dream everything be OK with positivity or a cream or holistic, but life’s not like that.”

Earlier this summer, Sam also came under fire for controversial comments she made about sun cream. The reality star took to social media to reveal she doesn’t get her children to wear sun cream.

The former TOWIE star explained that her kids have “built up a really good tolerance to being in the sun” as she made wild claims about sunscreen having “pretty harmful and full of toxic ingredients” in, which has been discredited by a skin doctor.

In a lengthy post shared on social media, she wrote: “So this is always a bit of a controversial one, but honestly, me and my whole family don’t actually wear sunscreen. Over the years, the kids have built up a really good tolerance to being in the sun.

“Of course if it’s really hot and the sun feels too harsh I’ll make sure we head into the shade… usually around lunchtime we’ll go in, have something to eat and just avoid those peak hours.”

She then went on to add: “I’m really careful about sunscreen in general, because a lot of them are actually pretty harmful and full of toxic ingredients. If you do want to protect your kids, I think SPF swimwear is such a good and safer option.

“But also, don’t be afraid of the sun! Early in the morning or later in the afternoon when it’s not as strong, I love letting the kids run around and soak it up, it’s good for them. That said, I do always bring a Tallow Zinc SPF with me when I go away, just in case. And hats or caps are a must! Especially for us ladies because no one wants extra sun damage.”

The comments were later heavily criticised by a skin doctor.

The Mirror has approached Sam’s representatives for comment on this story.

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Chris Woakes says rehabilitation “could be a risk he’s willing to take” to be fit for the Ashes, rather than having surgery on the shoulder injury sustained in England’s fifth Test defeat against India.

The 36-year-old is waiting for the results of a scan after suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder on day one at the Oval.

England had ruled him out of the rest of the Test, but he still stepped out to bat with his left arm in a sling as they chased what would have been a series-clinching victory on a dramatic final morning.

The first Ashes Test begins in Perth on 21 November.

“I’m waiting to see what the extent of the damage is but I think the options will be to have surgery or to go down a rehab route and try and get it as strong as possible,” Woakes told BBC Sport.

“I suppose naturally with that there will be a chance of a reoccurrence, but I suppose that could be a risk that you’re just willing to take sort of thing.

“From what I’ve heard from physios and specialists is that the rehab of a surgery option would be closer to four months or three to four months. That’s obviously touching on the Ashes and Australia so it makes it tricky.

“From a rehab point of view you can probably get it get it strong again within eight weeks. So that could be an option, but again obviously still waiting to get the full report on it.”

A WOMAN who forked out £80,000 for her dramatic plastic surgery has revealed she has no plans to stop going under the knife.

Pixiee Fox drew inspiration from cartoon characters including Jessica Rabbit and Sleeping Beauty for her transformation, but was told she would end up looking “goofy” by plastic surgeons.

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On an episode of E!’s Botched, Pixiee faced plastic surgeon Terry Dubrow and Paul Nassif as she revealed she wanted to go under the knife yet again to lower her hair line to make her forehead appear smaller.

“I never really felt human, I always felt more like a fantasy creature,” she said on the show.

But when Pixiee met with the surgeons they weren’t convinced by her plans to lower her hairline.

“I am so close to becoming a real life cartoon, I need a small surgery and I’m done,” she said.

After a consultation with the doctors, they determined her previous surgeries had caused too much damage.

“I have never seen anything like this in my entire career,” Doctor Terry said.

The duo broke the news to Pixiee that they wouldn’t operate on her, but she hinted she would still go ahead with the surgery elsewhere, despite their advice.

How has Pixee Fox made herself look like a Barbie doll?

The social media star has had countless plastic surgery ops since her first procedure in 2011, transforming her body.

Pixee, who lives in North Carolina, flew to India to have her eye colour changed in a dangerous operation that is not performed in Europe or America.

She also went to Korea to have her jaw shape changed in another extreme procedure that could have left her paralysed.

She’s had several boob jobs, bringing her up to a colossal 30J, and has pumped up her bum and lips with fat from her legs and belly.

Pixee even admitted she “gave up on love” to share a home with fellow surgery addict Justin Jedlica, so they can live together as a real-life Barbie and Ken.

She’s had 200 ops, including six ribs removed, four boob jobs, two rounds of liposuction, labiaplasty, and butt lift.

And she even had her jaw broken, shaved and reset, to mimic Wonder Woman.

Pixee Fox went through the agonising op to give her a symmetrical V-shaped jawline  in June.

She’s also said to have had her nose and ears altered to make her look more like a Disney princess.

Pixiee shot to fame for her unique looks, but soon the multiple procedures started to take a toll on her health, so she decided to take a break from going under the knife.

Back in 2023 she shared an update with her Instagram followers, as she claimed her obsession with plastic surgery nearly killed her.

She said: “I was a person famous for having plastic surgery, and I have advertised doctors and the procedures they have done on me. I am making this post now because I see other girls advertising this doctor who almost ended my life.”

She added: “I am lucky to still be alive after been in a coma for more than one week. So lucky to have friends and family coming to my aid and getting me home to Sweden.”

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England and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has undergone successful surgery for a long-standing shoulder issue.

The 22-year-old is expected to miss the whole of Real’s pre-season and at least the first six weeks of the campaign, which would include England’s World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia in September.

Bellingham has struggled with the problem since 2023, when he dislocated his shoulder in a game against Rayo Vallecano.

Real said he will now undergo a period of rehabilitation before returning to training.

The Spanish club, under new manager Xabi Alonso, start their La Liga season at home to Osasuna on 19 August.

Bellingham has worn strapping on his shoulder, but told reporters in June he was “tired of playing with the sling”.

Real scheduled his surgery for after the Club World Cup in the United States, where they were beaten in the semi-finals by Paris St-Germain last week.

Bellingham joined Real from Borussia Dortmund for £115m two years ago and won the La Liga title and Champions League in his first season, scoring 23 goals in 43 appearances.

He scored 15 goals in 58 games last season, with Real losing the league title to Barcelona and knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals by Arsenal.