Daily Times

LONDON: Premier League club midfielder, Ryan Mason´s clash of heads with Chelsea´s Gary Cahill has again set alarm bells ringing over the risk of head injuries across a number of high profile sports.

The 25-year-old Hull City midfielder remained in “stable condition” in hospital after the brutal impact with Cahill, 14 minutes into Sunday´s Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, left him with a fractured skull.

Defender Cahill got back to his feet and headed the Premier League leader’s second goal in their 2-0 win. But Mason after eight minutes of treatment on the pitch was carried off on a stretcher while receiving oxygen before being taken to a London hospital.

He underwent surgery and Hull said Mason had spoken with visitors.

A leading critic of the way football deals with head injuries said Mason´s treatment had been “exemplary”.

Peter McCabe, the chief executive of brain injury charity Headway was with other spectators who saw the Stamford Bridge collision.

“I was actually at the match and while it was upsetting to witness the incident, it was encouraging to see the exemplary reaction of the medical teams,” said McCabe.

“Headway has been critical of the way in which head injuries have been treated in many high-profile football incidents in recent years but it is positive to see that lessons appear to have been learned.”

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte revealed Cahill´s half-time condition “wasn´t really good”.

The England centre-back had however received injury assessment during the break in play when Mason was treated.

Headway´s preferred stance is that if there is any doubt an injured player should be withdrawn from the match