EXCLUSIVEBy Derek DavisChief Football WriterIPSWICH Town's most expensive teenage buy Chris Hogg is today making a good recovery after severing an artery while chasing away thieves who tried to steal his sister's car.

EXCLUSIVE

By Derek Davis

Chief Football Writer

IPSWICH Town's most expensive teenage buy Chris Hogg is today making a good recovery after severing an artery while chasing away thieves who tried to steal his sister's car.

The England under-19 defender needed a four-hour operation to repair nerves, tendons and a main artery in his left arm, which were sliced open after he accidentally put his hand through a plate glass window in an effort to scare away the thieves.

The East Anglian Daily Times can reveal that Hogg was rushed to hospital by his sister as his family feared he could die from loss of blood.

Hogg, who joined the Blues as a 16-year old in a £150,000 deal from York City, described last night how he was in bed at his parent's home in Middlesbrough on Boxing Day when he had heard suspicious noises.

“I looked out the window and saw someone trying to get into my sister's car. I ran down the stairs, but the door was locked,” he said.

“As I reached to get the keys I was banging on the door to try to scare them away. On the third thump my hand and arm went through the plate glass window.

“There was blood everywhere and things weren't looking good. My family was really worried and didn't think we could wait for an ambulance.

“My sister had seen the thieves drive away in another car, so she put me in her car and drove me to the hospital.”

Hogg needed so many stitches to repair the wounds that staff literally lost count and he spent a week in the Middlesbrough hospital before returning home on Monday.

The thieves, who were not caught, got away with a set of wheel trims valued at about £10.

The young Blues prodigy was hailed as an outstanding prospect when Town paid a record fee to bring the young England captain to Portman Road.

Hogg has made nine reserve team appearances this season and represented England, but he has found his path to the first team blocked as a senior appearance would trigger a £50,000 payment to York City.

This new setback will mean that he cannot play again for at least two months.

He said: “I have a splint on for six weeks, but hopefully I will be playing very shortly after that.

“I have spoken with our physio Matt Byard who has given me advice, but I will have a clearer picture on what I can do after I see the surgeon again later this week.”

Hogg has been told he can leave on a free transfer or a loan and his contract will not be renewed when it expires in the summer.

The Blues defender is the second Ipswich player to be involved with an incident outside his house.

The EADT reported Middlesbrough how a drunk-driver had woken goalkeeper Kelvin Davis at 5am on New Year's Day after smashing into the front of his Bury St Edmunds house.

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk