Hull City have confirmed that Ryan Mason has been able to speak about the clash of heads with Chelsea's Gary Cahill that left him requiring surgery on a fractured skull.

The 25-year-old midfielder was conscious and able to communicate as he continued his recovery at St Mary’s Hospital in London on Monday night, having been stretchered off during the first half of his side's 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge the previous day.

Mason has been visited by club captain Michael Dawson and three other Hull officials. Cahill, Chelsea captain John Terry and assistant manager Steve Holland are also thought to have spent time with the player in hospital.

A statement on Hull’s official website, published on Monday at lunchtime, read: “Ryan has been speaking of the incident yesterday 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.

“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.”



Mason is expected to remain in hospital over the course of the next few days. The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder received treatment on the Stamford Bridge pitch for around nine minutes after the incident, which also left Cahill requiring attention from Chelsea's medical staff.

Cahill was subsequently cleared to play on and later scored to double his side's advantage, adding to Diego Costa's opening goal with an 81st minute header.

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Earlier on Monday, the brain injury charity Headway praised the "exemplary" response of both medical teams.

Headway's 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.”