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Hull City midfielder Ryan Mason has been speaking to club officials who visited him in hospital on Monday morning after he underwent surgery on a fractured skull, the Premier League club have announced. Medics rushed Mason from Stamford Bridge to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington for emergency surgery after he received lengthy treatment on the pitch for the injury, which he sustained during Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Chelsea. A Hull statement on Monday read: "The Club can confirm that Ryan has been visited this 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 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." The incident occurred in the 13th minute when Chelsea defender Gary Cahill accidentally butted him in the side of the head during an aerial challenge in the Hull penalty area. Cahill, along with Chelsea captain John Terry and assistant first-team coach Steve Holland, visited Mason in hospital on Sunday night as he recovers, sources at the club have confirmed to ESPN FC. Mason's family thanked well-wishers for their support following a "traumatic 24 hours." "The well wishes and support that we've received as a family from such a large number of players, managers, clubs, fans and everyone involved in football -- as well as even from people outside of the sport -- has helped to give Ryan and all of the family great strength during this incredibly difficult time," the family statement said. Cahill was able to carry on after being assessed by Chelsea's medical staff and scored his team's second goal, before saying: "We smashed heads, there was a massive impact and I know he went off. I wish him all the best and hope there is no serious injury for him." Cahill, Terry and Holland were unable to see Mason as he was still in surgery, instead spending time with the 25-year-old's parents who had attended the match at Stamford Bridge. Mason's injury has prompted messages of support from throughout the game, including messages from former Tottenham teammates Gareth Bale and Harry Kane. Brain injury charity Headway praised the treatment England international Mason received. 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." Cahill had been assessed for some time during the break in play as Mason was attended to. Chelsea boss Antonio Conte said Cahill's half-time condition "wasn't really good" but he was deemed fit to continue after being reassessed by club medics. Cahill completed the match, scoring Chelsea's second goal 10 minutes from time. Headway did not reference Cahill in its 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' to help team medics identify concussions and whether a player is fit to continue. Headway favours an approach where, if there is any doubt over a player's fitness to continue, they are withdrawn from the action. ESPN FC's Chelsea correspondent, Liam Twomey, contributed to this report.
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