MATCH official Kevin Friend has been released from hospital following his fall during Saints' defeat to Bounremouth.

However, he will not be ready to officiate Saints' match with Sunderland at St Mary's on Saturday as was originally planned.

The Premier League confirmed it had been given an update from the Professional Game Match Officials Limited governing body that concussion protocols are now to be followed.

That means Friend will not be able to take charge of the match between Saints and the Black Cats.

Friend was the fourth official at the Vitality Stadium, but was taken to hospital after banging his head on the dugout during the first half.

Speaking after his side's 2-0 defeat, Saints boss Koeman believes Friend briefly lost consciousness in the incident.

Koeman said: "I was on the bench and he came to us and he fell against the dugout, with his nose, and then fell to the ground.

"I don't know his situation now, but he for maybe five seconds he was out of everything."

Friend was treated on the side of the pitch before being taken to hospital, with non-league referee Dean Treleaven - a spectator in the crowd - pressed into service as a stand-in fourth official to help referee Mike Dean and his assistants for the second half.

A replacement referee for Saturday's match at St Mary's Stadium is scheduled to be confirmed on Thursday.

Should Friend be given a clean bill of health following the implementation of the concussion protocols, then the Leicestershire-based referee could return for the Premier League matches over the weekend of March 12/13.