Saints keeper Cody Cropper was taken to hospital tonight with suspected head injuries after a nasty collision playing for the club’s under-21 side.

Less than two minutes of the game against Fulham at Motspur Park had gone when American youth international Cropper, 21, produced some brave goalkeeping to challenge Dean O’Halloran for the ball.

Sadly for Cropper he took a heavy blow to the head and the game was stopped for almost ten minutes as he received extensive treatment on the pitch.

The decision was quickly taken to get Cropper to hospital for immediate tests and x-rays in a bid to discover the extent of the damage with Saints officials heading to visit him late after the game. No further details of his condition have been released.

Saints went on to win the match 2-1, with a return to action after injury for Jack Cork, but the thoughts of those on the pitch were very much with their stricken teammate.

Several of them took to social media immediately after the game to wish Cropper a speedy recovery.

Sam McQueen wrote “thoughts and prayers with Cody” while goalscorer Jason McCarthy added: “Thoughts are with @codycropper_99.”

Jake Flannigan said: “Also hope @codycropper_99 is okay! Brave goalkeeping!” Ryan Seager commented: “Hope @codycropper_99 is okay too.”