Man Utd match abandoned after Sekou Kone stretchered off with horror head injury

Manchester United Under-21s' National League Cup match against Tamworth has been abandoned after Sekou Kone suffered a horror head injury. The Red Devils midfielder, who is knocking on the door of his first-team debut, had to be stretchered off following a serious head injury in worrying scenes.

United started their National League Cup campaign at the Lamb Ground, and the score was locked at 0-0 before the incident involving Kone. The 19-year-old started for the visitors but collapsed to the ground at the end of the first half after a hard-hitting collision with a Tamworth player.

Kone initially rose to his feet but went back to ground as he received medical treatment, which lasted around 15 minutes before a stretcher took him off the pitch.

The Malian talent was holding a mask on his face as medics took him down the tunnel, and they, at first, continued to come to his aid on site.

An ambulance eventually whisked Kone away to a local hospital, but the match remained suspended because of rules requiring an ambulance on site.

A second one was not available, and therefore, the referee abandoned play, directing players and coaches to their respective dressing rooms.

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United have since confirmed that Kone is conscious, stable and communicating with the club's medical team. He is at hospital as a precaution for further checks.

Kone has made 14 appearances for the Red Devils' U21s since joining from Guidars FC in his homeland, Mali, last summer.

He is thought to be closing in on his competitive senior debut after featuring on Ruben Amorim's bench on multiple occasions.

Kone also travelled with Amorim's squad for the post-season tour of Asia and the pre-season tour of the United States, impressing during the former.

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The United head coach pinpointed Kone for praise after he was a bright spark in the 1-0 defeat to ASEAN All-Stars in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.

"He will play more in the next match. He did well. All the youngsters tried, and that's the most important thing," Amorim explained.

Kone also caught the eye against Hong Kong and is primed to stay at United this season, rather than go out on loan for regular senior minutes.

His young team-mates, Harry Amass and Toby Collyer, are expected to leave on loan amid serious interest in the Championship.