When playing for Belgian side, RE Mouscron he made a sharp turn and severely damaged his tibia in the manoeuvre, following a subsequent operation, his knee has been a problem ever since. At the end of his time at 1899 Hofffenheim, his injury flared up once again, causing him to miss the end of his last season there. It was shortly after this when he failed his Stoke medical. A statement on the player’s official website at the time said:
“Demba who missed the 3 last games is out for the rest of the season. The Senegalese striker of Hoffenheim will undergo an arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Wednesday, April 7th.
“Dr. Ulrich Boenisch in Augsburg Hessingpark-Clinic will carry out the intervention. Demba will stay several days in the clinic in Augsburg before attending a program of four weeks in a rehabilitation centre in Donaustauf near Munich. Meanwhile the medical staff of Hoffenheim will follow Demba.
“In 2006, doctors inserted a nail into his tibia after he has broken his leg. In 2009, after his tibia healed, the nail was removed at the trauma clinic of Ludwigshafen. During the removal, it is possible that fragments of the nail have touched a sensitive part of the knee, which explains the recurrent pain.
“Demba Ba has played 17 Bundesliga games this season. He scored 5 goals. In his absence, Hoffenheim, 7th in the German championship in 2008-09 for its first season in the bundesliga is currently at the 11th place.
“Demba “It’s a very difficult moment for me. But with the support of my family and the club I will be ok. I will work very hard and come back even stronger. “
Are Marveaux’s groin and Ba’s knee ticking time bombs? 2. Demba Ba. | NUFC Blog.