Huddersfield Town defender Tommy Smith has expressed his gratitude for the support and concern shown to him following his head injury in the Yorkshire derby against Leeds United on Saturday.
The 22-year-old received eight minutes of treatment on the field after being knocked unconscious in a collision with his own keeper Joe Murphy before being airlifted to hospital.
Smith revealed the panic he felt when he fully regained consciousness in the helicopter, but was thankful for the "brilliant" support he received before being released from hospital on Sunday.
"I can remember all the game up until the incident quite clearly, but then I felt as though I clashed my head from both sides and, when I went down, that was pretty much it. I regained full consciousness when we were halfway to the hospital in the helicopter, which took me by surprise, and when I realised where I was I started panicking a little bit," the right-back told the Huddersfield Examiner.
"I was all strapped up to keep me secure and the panic came about because I couldn't really move. I remember thinking to myself just to try and keep calm, to close my eyes and hopefully the whole experience will be over in no time. Up until then the whole thing just seems like a complete blur. I didn't expect the whole thing to get the attention it has, but the support I've been getting off everyone has been really brilliant.
"My mum and dad and my girlfriend said the club were just first-class with how they handled it all on Saturday. They were brilliant and I have to thank them for that. Everything that went on was done in the right manner and I'm very appreciative of that. As I've said with regard to the messages, I've truly been taken aback by it all and I'm really grateful to the fans for all the support they have shown me."
The incident took place shortly after Billy Sharp had scored a 90th-minute winner for the visiting Leeds.
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