Ryan Mason injury left Jake Livermore 'fearing the worst'

Jake Livermore says he feared the worst for Ryan Mason when he realised the extent of his old team-mate's head injury.

The two England midfielders spent six years together at Tottenham and were later reunited at Hull before Livermore left to join West Brom this month.

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Just two days later, Livermore was following his old club's game at Chelsea on the television when Mason fractured his skull in a clash of heads with Gary Cahill.

Mason is making "excellent progress" in hospital, according to Hull, but there was real concern as medics took several minutes to treat him on the pitch at Stamford Bridge.

Livermore said: "You fear the worst when something like that happens to any sort of footballer, but it's so close and very fresh in the mind - I only spoke to him a couple of days ago and he wished me well.

"It's never nice to see any fellow professional [seriously injured], let alone someone you're very close to and talk to on a daily basis. I know his family very well. Everyone wishes him all the best, fingers crossed he'll be fine.

"From what we hear, he's making excellent progress. Hopefully that speedy recovery continues. We're all thinking about him that's for sure.

"He's a strong character anyway. I've played with him for a long time growing up and I've no doubts he'll be fine in that respect."