Last Updated: Thu, 01 Mar 2012 08:50
Manchester United are waiting to find out the extent of the sickening head injury Chris Smalling suffered playing for England.
The Red Devils' stopper was stretchered off the Wembley pitch just after the hour mark of Wednesday's 3-2 friendly defeat against the Netherlands after he clashed heads with Dutch striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar as he headed home his side's second goal in as many minutes.
Huntelaar was able to walk off the pitch clutching a bloody nose, while Smalling was taken to hospital for medical experts to assess the extent of the damage given that he was grounded for a few minutes before they could take him from the field.
Interim England manager Stuart Pearce afterwards said: "Chris Smalling has a really bad gash on his head and I believe he's gone to hospital so I hope that's not too bad.
"I spoke with him and he was conscious. Our thoughts are with him and I am hoping that he will be fine."
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will now have to wait for an update on Smalling's injury before he can formulate his plans for this Sunday's tough trip to face third-placed Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
One positive is that Smalling was replaced by fellow United defender Phil Jones, who came on at right-back with Micah Richards moving into the middle of the back four, and he had a late assist for United team-mate Ashley Young to score a late equaliser.
However, Arjen Robben went down the other end to score his second of the night and sealed a dramatic injury time winner for the Dutch.
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