Lille midfielder Angel Gomes was taken to hospital after colliding with Amadou Kone (Picture: Getty)
Angel Gomes says he is doing ‘okay’ and ‘feeling good’ after suffering a nasty head injury in Lille’s clash with Reims on Saturday.
Goals from Bafode Diakite and Jonathan David sealed Lille a comfortable 2-0 victory in their Ligue 1 opener, but Gomes’ worrying injury in the 11th minute overshadowed the match at the Stade Auguste-Delaune.
The 23-year-old midfielder, formerly of Manchester United, collided in the air with Reims defender Amadou Kone, who was shown a red card for the challenge by referee Eric Wattellier.
The game had to be put on hold for 34 minutes while medical staff treated Gomes, with both sets of fans singing and chanting the player’s name throughout the deeply troubling scenes.
Gomes was subsequently strapped to a stretcher and carried from the field shortly before half-time to be taken to hospital and Hakon Arnar Haraldsson came on in his place.
According to French publication RMC Sport, scans and neurological examinations on Gomes came back normal. The ex-England Under-21 star required a stitch on a wound on his lip but returned to Lille overnight and was able to stand during the tests.
In an Instagram post this afternoon, Gomes – sporting a busted lip – reassured fans that he was recovering well after the ‘crazy’ collision and thanked medical staff for their support.
‘Hi guys, just a quick update… just want to let everyone know that I’m okay, I’m back home. I’ve been looked after and I’m feeling good,’ Gomes said.
‘I just want to thank all he medical staff at the club, all the medical staff at the hospital that looked after me.
‘It was a crazy collision. These things happen in football but the most important thing is that I’m okay.
‘We won, we got the three points and I just want to thank the fans also from both team, obviously the home supporters that support me week in, week out, and the fans at Reims for the support. Thank you.’
The Manchester United academy product was treated for over half an hour on the pitch (Picture: Getty)
Lille must follow concussion protocol before Gomes is able to return to first-team action, meaning the former United man is set to miss the side’s upcoming matches against Slavia Prague and Angers.
‘The latest news is rather reassuring, but it’s better to be careful,’ Lille head coach Bruno Genesio said shortly after his side’s win.
‘Angel asked if he was going to play next Saturday. It’s a good sign if he has a sense of humour. The match was secondary for me tonight.
‘Angel was conscious when he was carried out.
‘I know he spoke, he asked about the result, he showed he’s in good spirits, but I think we have to wait a bit.’
Reims manager Luka Elsner said he was ‘scared’ for Gomes also passed on his support to the London-born midfielder.
He told reporters: ‘The first words must be for Angel Gomes. I hope he is well.
‘I think the news can be a little reassuring, it is one of the priorities after a match like that. We were scared.’
Lille’s win put them third in the French top flight, with Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain sitting top and second after resounding victories away from home.
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