TOM Bender’s Dad, Lee, has issued a statement following his son’s much-publicised hospitalisation, due to a collision while playing for loan club Accrington Stanley on Tuesday night.

TOM Bender’s Dad, Lee, has issued a statement following his son’s much-publicised hospitalisation, due to a nasty collision while playing for loan club Accrington Stanley on Tuesday night.

The 18-year-old suffered severe concussion, but no other damage, after results from a brain scan gave him the all-clear.

Bender had been knocked unconscious, after taking a full blow in the face from his own keeper Ian Dunbavin, who was attempting to clear the ball. He was attended to on the pitch for 30 minutes, and put on a drip, before being taken to Blackburn Hospital.

His Dad’s statement reads as follows:

“Tom’s OK. He’s in good spirits. He doesn’t remember too much about it, but that’s nothing unusual!

“I’m just glad that I was here really. I don’t think he knew much about it though.

“He certainly didn’t acknowledge me in the hospital! He recognised his team-mate Kurtis Guthrie more than me.

“It is just a comfort to me, my wife and my family that I was able to be with him.

“The medical care he got was absolutely superb. I’d like to thank everyone from Accrington and from Tranmere, and the medical staff. We couldn’t have wished for anymore.

“The players and management teams from both sides were great and everyone at Colchester’s been brilliant too.

“It’s amazing that there’s so much interest. The void between the Premier League and League Two seems so great, but when something like this happens, there is no barrier.

“We’re just waiting to find out from the doctors when they are going to release him from the hospital, and when he’s available to come back for training and selection for the first team.

“I’d just like to say thank you to everyone that’s been in touch, with both Accrington and Colchester.

“Tom would like to thank everyone as well, and I’m sure when he’s able to that he will.”