Scottish side Hibernian have confirmed Socceroos winger Martin Boyle is in a “stable condition in hospital” after he suffered a sickening head knock during a Scottish Cup quarter final clash against Rangers.
There were frightening scenes at Easter Road when Boyle remained down on the turf after colliding with Rangers’ John Souttar — brother of Socceroos star Harry — when challenging for an aerial contest.
Unfortunately for Boyle, he came off significantly worse for wear as medical staff from both Hibernian and Rangers raced onto the field to assess his condition.
The Socceroos man was soon taken from the field in a stretcher and was replaced by Elie Youan
Boyle was subsequently rushed to hospital but Hibernian have since provided a pleasing update on his condition.
“Hibernian FC can confirm that Martin Boyle is now in a stable condition in hospital,” the club said in a statement.
“The winger went straight to hospital after the first half collision against Rangers and is receiving the best possible care.
“The Club would like to thank the speed of both clubs’ medical departments in attending to Martin on the pitch.
“Everyone at Hibernian FC wishes Martin a speedy recovery.”
It was Rangers who ultimately emerged victorious in the contest, condemning a nine-man Hibernian side to a 2-0 defeat to progress into the Scottish Cup semi finals.
Rangers appeared to be struggling at the start of the second half following their 2-2 draw with Benfica in the Europa League in Lisbon on Thursday.
But Hibs’ Jordan Obita and Nathan Moriah-Welsh were then both sent off in the space of three minutes.
Obita was dismissed for a second bookable offence in the 68th minute after a foul on Rabbi Matondo before Moriah-Welsh was shown a straight red for a reckless challenge on Lundstram.
Hibs continued to hold out before Portuguese striker Fabio Silva’s goal seven minutes from time made the game safe for the visitors.
The Premier League’s January transfer window is almost complete, with clubs racing to finish their dealings before the window slams shut at 11pm local time (GMT) on February 1.
That’s 10am on Saturday morning AEDT.
Ange Postecoglou’s has landed two big targets at Tottenham this window, signing former Chelsea flop Timo Werner from RB Leipzig on a loan move with an option to buy at the end of the season as well as 21-year-old centre-back Radu Dragusin.
Meanwhile, Manchester City offloaded Kalvin Phillips to West Ham on loan, while Donny van de Beek left Manchester United for Eintracht Frankfurt on loan and teammate Jadon Sancho returned to Borussia Dortmund on loan.
While they are the biggest deals so far, here’s the list of every move from each club this window!
This story will continue to be updated until the window closes 10am Saturday AEDT.
Manchester United rode their luck to start the Premier League season with victory as Raphael Varane’s header earned a 1-0 win over Wolves on Tuesday (AEST).
Wolves had seen manager Julen Lopetegui walk out less than a week before the new campaign, but dominated for long spells at Old Trafford.
A combination of wasteful finishing and new United goalkeeper Andre Onana kept the visitors at bay until Varane headed in 14 minutes from time.
The Red Devils then clung on to get off to a winning start, in stark contrast to the two defeats that began Erik ten Hag’s reign 12 months ago.
But the manner of the performance raises questions over whether United can pose a serious challenge for their first Premier League title in a decade.
United fans’ wishes that a new season would start under new ownership have not been met with a sale process seemingly at a standstill.
The home support again showed their displeasure towards owners, the Glazer family, with a pre-match protest against the Americans and chants of “we want Glazers out” at kick-off.
That lingering uncertainty has not stopped another summer of big spending by the Red Devils.
Onana and midfielder Mason Mount were handed their debuts by Ten Hag, but new £64 million striker Rasmus Hojlund was ruled out by a back injury.
Wolves, by contrast, lost Lopetegui less six days ago due to a lack of funds in the transfer market.
Gary O’Neil replaced the Spaniard tasked with repeating his heroics in keeping Bournemouth in the Premier League last season.
Raphael Varane scored Manchester United’s first goal of the Premier League season. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Wolves did not look like a club in crisis as they controlled the game, but suffered from a lack of a cutting edge up front.
Pablo Sarabia and Matheus Cunha fired the best chances of the first-half just past the post.
Cunha came even closer at the start of the second period. The Brazilian should have scored when he hit the outside of the post with the goal gaping.
The £44 million obligation to buy Cunha from Atletico Madrid this summer has restricted Wolves’ budget.
But the 24-year-old showed a glimpse of why he could yet live up to that fee with a surging run through the heart of the United midfield before firing a low shot that Onana turned behind.
Ten Hag turned to his bench in search of solutions as Mount and Alejandro Garnacho were sacrificed for Cristian Eriksen and Jadon Sancho.
But the big chances continued to come Wolves way.
Pedro Neto was next to waste a glorious opportunity when he shot straight at Onana with just the Cameroonian to beat.
Wolves wastefulness in front of goal came back to haunt them when Varane nodded in 15 minutes from time.
Bruno Fernandes’ pass picked out Aaron Wan-Bissaka, whose lofted cross picked out the French centre-back to head into an unguarded net.
Wolves could still have bounced back to take a more than deserved point. Onana twice denied substitute Fabio Silva with his legs before the former Inter Milan ‘keeper somehow survived a VAR check for a penalty deep into stoppage time when he flapped at a cross and wiped out Sasa Kalajdzic.
Serbian goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic was punched in the face in a shocking fan attack during Sevilla’s Europa League defeat to PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands.
Dmitrovic was only introduced to the Sevilla line-up at the last minute after regular No. 1 Yassine Bounou was unwell prior to the match.
But the Serbian gloveman not only conceded two goals, but was the victim of a horrific attack from a pitch invader, who rushed the keeper and punched him in the face.
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A pitch invader (R) attempts an assault on Sevilla FC goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic (L) during the UEFA Europa league play-off match between PSV Eindhoven and Sevilla FC at the Phillips stadium in Eindhoven.Source: AFP
Dmitrovic quickly subdued his assailant before security staff marched the fan from the ground to loud jeers from the crowd. The goalkeeper was apparently uninjured and played the remainder of the match.
Luuk de Jong and Fabio Silva scored for PSV late in the match, while the Dutch side had Mauro Junior sent off in stoppage time.
But six-time champions Sevilla progressed from the last-16 tie 3-2 on aggregate despite the 2-0 defeat in the second leg.
Dmitrovic said (translated from Spanish): “He pushed me from behind and then he got in my face and tried to hit me. I think it brushed me a little on the side of the nose. And then, to be honest, I really wanted to hit him.
“But it’s never pretty. If you want to fight, we go to an event or a sport like boxing or anything. Here in this one, in the sport of football they don’t deserve those things, but there is always some, some fan who is drunk and mad, there is an idiot who assaults, but hey, that shouldn’t happen here. I hope they punish him like any other who jumps on the field.”
