Brighton and Hove Albion have announced that Jan Paul van Hecke has been discharged from hospital after sustaining a head injury against Brentford. The defender was stretchered off the pitch at the Gtech Community Stadium after colliding with Yunus Emre Konak when challenging for a header.
With the Seagulls trailing 4-2 and the referee expecting to play an extra 45 seconds of additional extra time, Van Hecke looked to flick on Bart Verbruggen’s long kick but clashed heads with Konak. The medical staff from both teams rushed onto the pitch to attend to both players.
Van Hecke sat up shortly afterwards but it quickly became clear that he would need further treatment and he was laid down flat by the Brighton staff. A stretcher was then brought on as the central defender was given oxygen, before he was taken off the pitch.
Eiran Cashin then came on in his place, with Konak also being replaced as a sixth concussion substitution by Gustavo Nunes.
Brighton have now provided an update on the condition of their No. 29, confirming that Van Hecke has been discharged from hospital. The club’s post on X read: “After being stretchered off at the end of today’s game, Jan Paul van Hecke was taken to hospital as a precaution but has now been discharged and is on his way back to Brighton.
“Thank you to everyone who sent us your messages of concern and support for JP.”
The collision capped off another afternoon to forget for Fabian Hurzeler’s side, who are enduring a shaky run of form in the heart of their challenge for European football. Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring for Brentford after just nine minutes before Danny Welbeck equalised for the Seagulls on the stroke of half-time.
Mbeumo then bagged another early goal in the second half before Yoane Wissa fired the Bees into a two-goal lead after 58 minutes. Joao Pedro was then shown a straight red card after kicking out at James Collins before Kaoru Mitoma came off of the bench to half the deficit and provide Hurzeler’s side with a glimmer of hope. However, a late header from Christian Norgaard put the game to bed and secured all three points for the Bees.