Footballer Davenport stabbed at home
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Your support makes all the difference.A teenager was being quizzed by detectives tonight after a Premier League footballer was stabbed in both legs in a "bloody" attack at his family home.
Doctors said West Ham United defender Calum Davenport, 26, was in a serious condition after being set upon along with his mother at their property in Bedford late last night.
The 26-year-old, who was a multi-million pound signing and an England Under 21 international, underwent emergency surgery this morning. His mother is thought to have suffered lesser injuries.
Neighbours on leafy Springfield Avenue described "noisy" scenes before emergency services arrived. A 19-year-old man was arrested later and taken into custody.
Ann Desics, who lives in Springfield Avenue, said she was woken up by people arguing in the road outside the footballer's mother's house shortly before 5am.
"I just thought it was people passing by but then the ambulances came," she said. "I didn't see the incident, I just heard all this shouting.
"The main person shouting had a very strong Caribbean accent.
"It's an awful thing to happen - I hope he's okay."
Mrs Desics, 61, said the road was cordoned off for some time after Davenport was taken to hospital while the scene was examined.
There was "quite a lot" of blood on the road, she added.
Davenport cost the east London club £3million when he joined them from Tottenham during the summer of 2007.
He did not figure in West Ham's first game of the season, at Wolves last week, and, after struggling to hold down a first-team place, has been linked with a move away from the club.
The Hammers said the club's thoughts were with the family in a statement.
It added: "His mum is recovering while Calum underwent surgery this morning and his injuries were described as serious by doctors.
"The club's medical team are in contact with hospital staff.
"The thoughts of everyone at West Ham are with Calum and his family."
A spokeswoman for Bedfordshire Police said: "Police were called to Springfield Avenue in Kempston at 5am after a report of a person being stabbed.
"A 26-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment for serious injury which is not thought to be life-threatening at this time.
"A 19-year-old man was arrested shortly after the incident in connection with the assault.
"But the investigation is still ongoing and house to house inquiries, scenes of crime officers and a cordon are at the scene at this moment in time."
The teenager was taken into custody for questioning, officers added.
Bedford-born Davenport spent a spell on loan at Premier League rivals Sunderland last season and has also been loaned out to Watford.
The centre-back started his career at Coventry and has also played on loan at Southampton and Norwich.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said the London force had been contacted about the attack but was not involved in the investigation.
A resident of the quiet suburban street where the stabbing took place said: "We are all a bit shocked to tell the truth.
"You just don't expect something like this to happen here, it's a peaceful, quiet spot normally."
Davenport was a "mad keen" footballer from a young age, according to Mrs Desics, who had known him when she worked as a dinner lady at his primary school, Camestone.
Mrs Desics said she had not seen him "for years" until his mother moved into the street around a year ago and Davenport became a regular visitor.