Ryan Mason, the Hull City midfield player, was on Monday night conscious and speaking to doctors and visitors in hospital as he continued to recover from a fractured skull suffered against Chelsea.

Although it is too soon to say how long Mason will be sidelined, or even if he will be allowed to resume his career given the serious nature of the injury, the early signs are positive and those who saw him on Monday said he was in good spirits at St Mary’s Hospital in London.

With well-wishers expressing their support on social media throughout the day, those visitors included Hull captain Michael Dawson and club medical staff. Gary Cahill – with whom Mason accidentally clashed heads – John Terry and the Chelsea assistant manager Steve Holland also visited the Paddington hospital and spent time with Mason’s parents.