Peter Crouch was forced to pull out of TV coverage – making ‘unwanted history’

Peter Crouch had to withdraw from punditry work with TNT Sport after suffering a back injury.

The former England and Premier League striker had been due to cover Chelsea’s 3-0 win over West Ham at the London Stadium last Saturday.

However, he has since revealed he had to pull out after not being able to move following a back spasm.

Speaking on his self-titled podcast, he said: “I pulled out of West Ham vs Chelsea injured.

“It is the back, I basically went to spasm on Thursday and I thought it would just go.

“But moved into Friday and it was much worse.

“I woke up on Saturday morning and I could not move – just lying flat on the floor – could not move.”

And his co-host Chris Stark went on to joke he probably made history in the process.

“You are the first ever pundit to miss a game through injury,” he joked.

With Crouch unable to work, TNT switched their coverage around, with Jules Breach, Joe Cole, Lynsey Hipgrave, Lucy Ward and Darren Fletcher made to do extra pre-match interviews and analysis.

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He was not involved for this Saturday’s TNT Sports coverage of Newcastle’s draw with Manchester City either, which saw the Magpies net a controversial penalty.

Crouch continued: “Fair play to Joe Cole, Jules, Lynsey, Lucy, Fletch and everyone involved, they ended up covering it quite well I thought.

“I realised they actually do not need me.”