Long road to recovery begins now for Hull City's Ryan Mason

RYAN MASON was conscious and communicating as the Hull City midfielder began his recovery following surgery on a fractured skull.
Hull City's Ryan Mason.
 Picture: Jonathan GawthorpeHull City's Ryan Mason.
 Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe
Hull City's Ryan Mason. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

The 25-year-old former Tottenham midfielder received oxygen as he was carried off after a clash of heads with Chelsea’s Gary Cahill in the first half of Hull’s 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

He underwent an operation at St Mary’s Hospital in London on Sunday evening and was visited by club captain Michael Dawson and three club officials on Monday.

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Hull said Mason would remain in hospital “over the coming days”.

Hull City's Ryan Mason lies injured on the floor at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Picture: Nick Potts/PAHull City's Ryan Mason lies injured on the floor at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Picture: Nick Potts/PA
Hull City's Ryan Mason lies injured on the floor at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Picture: Nick Potts/PA

The on-field treatment of Mason was described as “exemplary” by brain injury charity Headway, which has been critical of recent incidents of concussion in football.

Hull said in a statement: “Ryan has been visited (Monday morning) at St Mary’s Hospital by club captain Michael Dawson, club doctor Mark Waller, head of medical Rob Price and club secretary Matt Wild.

“Ryan has been speaking of the incident and will continue to be monitored at the hospital over the coming days where the club will remain in close contact with Ryan, his family and the staff at St Mary’s.”

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Mason, who received treatment for around nine minutes on the field, has been the subject of messages of support from many of his fellow professionals, his former club Spurs and the Football Association.

Hull City's Ryan Mason lies injured on the floor at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Picture: Nick Potts/PAHull City's Ryan Mason lies injured on the floor at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Picture: Nick Potts/PA
Hull City's Ryan Mason lies injured on the floor at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Picture: Nick Potts/PA

Cahill, Chelsea club captain John Terry and assistant manager Steve Holland went to St Mary’s Hospital on Sunday evening to check on Mason’s well-being.

It is understood the trio spent time with members of Mason’s family who had attended the game, which was marred by the incident in the 14th minute.

Hull added in their statement: “Ryan and his family have also been extremely touched by the overwhelming support they have received and would very much like to thank all of those who have posted such positive comments both on social media and in the press over the last 24 hours.”

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Brain injury charity Headway praised the treatment of England international Mason.

Headway chief executive Peter McCabe said: “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.

“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.”

The FA have not been made aware of any issues in the way the incident was handled and have contacted Hull to offer their support to Mason.

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Professional Footballers’ Association deputy chief executive John Bramhall said: “There’s been a lot of work done over the past few years to raise awareness of head injuries, concussions and the importance to treat them with the utmost urgency.

“That was a good example of the level or standard you’d hope to expect.”

England defender Cahill had been assessed for some time during the break in play as Mason, too, was attended.

Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte revealed Cahill’s half-time condition “wasn’t really good”, but he was deemed fit to continue after being reassessed by club medics.

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Cahill completed the match, scoring Chelsea’s second goal 10 minutes from time.

Headway did not reference Cahill in their statement and it is not possible to make head injury assessments from afar.

The charity last September questioned whether concussion protocols were being observed in football, calling for an independent review after an incident involving Manchester United’s Anthony Martial.

Headway’s concerns surrounded whether rules introduced in August 2014 were being applied, not specifically the treatment of Martial. The regulations include the employment of a third ‘tunnel doctor’, or medical coordinator, to help team medics identify concussions and determine whether a player is fit to continue.