Kirkland hospitalised by collision

Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland was rushed to hospital after suffering a head injury in his side's 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough.

The 25-year-old England international was put in a neck brace and given oxygen at half-time following a delayed reaction to an incident a few minutes earlier in which he appeared to collide with one of his own defenders.

However, manager Paul Jewell later revealed that the injury is not as serious as was first feared, as he said: "Chris went into shock. He was surrounded by six or seven paramedics and they were concerned, very concerned. He has gone to hospital, but the good news is we think he is okay."

He added: "He got a kick or a knee in the head. He got up after attention and he came in, but it was a delayed reaction, apparently.

"The oxygen was on him and the neck brace and there was a lot of concern for him.

"I saw him come in and the next thing, he was on a bed.

"In the ambulance, he did apparently say to tell the gaffer he would be okay for Wednesday (at home to Arsenal). He must have had a bang on the head."