EFL clash halted after horror injury as star administered oxygen | Football | Sport
An EFL clash was halted on Saturday lunchtime after a player suffered a horror injury that left him needing oxygen. Cardiff City’s League One fixture against Stockport County was delayed for 12 minutes in the first-half after a bad injury to Yousef Salech.
The Bluebirds were already one goal down when Salech collided in the air with Stockport centre back Brad Hills. The clash that occurred in the centre-circle, left the striker clutching his head as medics rushed to his side.
Salech was given oxygen as the game was stopped and he was taken off on a stretcher to a round of applause. The forward has scored 12 goals this season and has been a hit since his move from IK Sirius in 2024.
Fourth-placed County had taken the lead in the 10th minute after Kyle Wootton pounced on a shot from Josh Dacres-Cogley which was saved by City goalkeeper Nathan Trott.
The game restarted, and the Bluebirds found an equaliser in the lengthy period of first-half added time through Joel Colwill, who fired home from inside the penalty area.
With the hosts looking for the winner in the second period, a late Calum Robinson chance was saved by County goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe in the 88th minute as the points were shared at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Speaking about Salech earlier this week, Bluebirds boss Brian Barry-Murphy said: “Obviously he’s a player who’s going to attract a lot of attention based on how well he’s done previously – and how well he’s doing currently.
“The club want to make sure that we’re protected and show how much we value him – and the fact that he feels the same is very important.
“He’s a very confident guy, and he backs that up with how hard he’s working every single day to improve, because he knows he needs to improve,” he added.
“He’ll have designs on playing at the very highest level of European or English football and our job is to give him the platform to do that.
“We’re all very confident and passionate about making him realise that ambition – and thankfully he feels that as well.”
