YOUNG Saints striker Dom Ballard was substituted with a concerning injury during Reading's 2-1 win at Wycombe Wanderers.

The 18 year old England youth international was stretchered with an oxygen mask early in the first half of the League One clash, with the scores still level at 0-0.

Ballard was instantly surrounded by medical staff and players from both teams as he sustained a leg injury from an unfortunate fall. 

Adams Park applauded Ballard, who joined Reading on a season-long loan on deadline day this summer, as he was stretchered off.

Former Saints manager Ruben Selles, in charge of the Royals, admitted there is no diagnosis of his injury yet but expressed his concern. 

He said: "It didn’t look great. It was after the shot that he made. He felt something strange. He is going to the hospital to take a scan. We don’t have the verdict yet but it doesn’t look well."

On their social media, Reading said: "Ballard has to come off on a stretcher - takes a nasty looking fall and needs medical attention. Get well soon Dom." 

Ballard has netted three goals in 10 league appearances for the Royals and scored an 11-minute hattrick against Mexico for England under-19 last time out.