Laura Woods’ return to TV confirmed as pundit’s first job since needing surgery for freak accident is announced
LAURA WOODS’ first TV job since needing surgery for a freak accident has been announced.
The football favourite has been announced as a host among a star-studded ITV cast for Euro 2024 in Germany.
Woods will share presenting duties with Mark Pougatch with a host of famous names on the punditry table.
They include Ian Wright, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Karen Carney, Graeme Souness and Eni Aluko.
Guests alongside them are also Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, Sheffield Wednesday’s Danny Rohl and ref analyst Christina Unkel.
Woods – a regular for TNT Sports and ITV – was forced to miss Oleksandr Usyk’s historic heavyweight boxing win over Tyson Fury.
It came after she suffered a horror injury that left her hospitalised.
Woods had accidentally smashed a glass lampshade above her head, causing it to shatter and cut her face and arm.
She was taken to an emergency clinic by her Love Island star boyfriend Adam Collard.
It forced Woods out of the pay-per-view broadcast in Saudi Arabia but she hopes to be back for the Champions League and FA Cup finals on TNT Sports.
But her first confirmed role back is for ITV’s Euros coverage.
Woods was on the mend when she thanked those who came to her aid while defiantly vowing to “be back soon”.
She posted on Instagram: “Just wanted to explain my absence from the telly for a little while, to be totally transparent and avoid any speculation.
“I had an accident last weekend at a holiday cottage. I swung a pillow and hit a large, glass lampshade hanging from the ceiling above me, which shattered and cut my face and arms, but luckily missed my eye.
“I wanted to say a couple of thank yous, firstly to Adam, for being my hero that day, acting so quickly and not leaving my side since and to his family for taking care of me in a time when I was petrified.
“To my agents Alex Maguire and Matthew Odonohue at CAA who searched for the best help immediately.
“To Dr Yannis Alexandrides and his wonderful medical assistant Zuzanna at 111 who opened their emergency surgery and came in on their days off, they were so gentle and have already worked magic that I didn’t think was possible to reduce the damage.
“I’ve added in the photos from then to now to show that even though it may look rough, it’s such a wonderful improvement already and I’m so grateful.
“It was a hell of a shock and I’ve been a bit sad, but I’m feeling very lucky it wasn’t worse. So a big thanks to my eyebrow too, for taking the brunt of it.
“I’m gutted I can’t cover the fight in Riyadh tomorrow anymore, but wishing the brilliant TNT boxing team all the best. Be back soon xx.”