Jan Paul van Hecke injury updates – Brighton star discharged from hospital after horror head collision
BRIGHTON's match with Brentford was hit with a lengthy delay after Jan Paul van Hecke was stretchered off following a horror clash of heads.
Van Hecke was rushed to hospital for tests after receiving oxygen on the pitch, but has now been discharged.
The Dutch defender's compatriot Bart Verbruggen rang his team-mate’s wife to reassure her as news of the collision spread.
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Aston Villa 1-1 Newcastle
41. Rogers side-steps Murphy and is brought down by Joelinton.
The referee awards Aston Villa a free-kick and shows the Newcastle man a yellow card.
Great play from the Villa attacker.
Aston Villa 1-1 Newcastle
39. Watkins has looked sharp up top for the hosts.
On another day he would have had a first-half hat-trick.
He is a constant thorn in the side of The Magpies.
Credit: Getty Aston Villa 1-1 Newcastle
37. Aston Villa are driving forward once again.
They are using the flanks well and targeting Trippier's side.
Rogers has been quiet so far, they need to get him involved more.
Aston Villa 1-1 Newcastle
35. A draw today would do neither of these sides any favours.
The Magpies would still be in third spot but would have missed out on the chance to close the gap to Arsenal above them.
Aston Villa would have a big uphill struggle to try and qualify for the Champions League as a result.
View from SunSport's Graeme Bryce at Villa Park
I said this could be spicy - but I didn't expect Vindaloo strength!
Ollie Watkins lit the blue touch paper on this firecracker of a match by opening the scoring after just 33 seconds - on Nick Pope's 33rd birthday!
It's the perfect response to being left out of both PSG Champions League matches for Marcus Rashford.
That early strike, with the help of a deflection off Fabian Schar, sees Watkins join Gabby Agbonlahor on 74 Premier League goals for Villa - no Villan has scored more!
And Watkins almost adds another when he crashes a shot off the crossbar and later sends a header off the post.
But Newcastle aren't going down without a fight.
They equalised through a Fabian Schar header from a Harvey Barnes cross which found a way through Emi Martinez's legs at the back post.
Villa, inspired by a pumped up Ollie Watkins, are on top but the Magpies look a threat every time they venture upfield.
Aston Villa 1-1 Newcastle
33. Schar and Burn are having to deal with a lot of crosses into the box.
Despite being so dominant in the air, Villa are giving them issues.
The Magpies break on the counter and Tonali looks to bend one in the far corner but Martinez tips it around the post.
Aston Villa 1-1 Newcastle
31. Livramento is causing problems with his pace down the flank.
Kamara has to track back to cover for Cash.
As he looks to cross, it is deflected behind for another corner.
Credit: PA Aston Villa 1-1 Newcastle
29. You would have to say that Villa have been the better team in this match so far.
They look so potent when coming forward and have hit the woodwork twice now.
Football often does not work that way however, as Newcastle win a corner from Cash.
Aston Villa 1-1 Newcastle
27. Guimaraes is penalised for a foul on Asensio.
It gives Aston Villa a free-kick in a dangerous position.
The Spaniards delivery finds Watkins, whose header cracks against the woodwork once again.
Aston Villa 1-1 Newcastle
25. It has been an entertaining half so far.
Cash receives the ball out wide and checks onto his left foot, looking to curl a cross into the box.
He puts too much on it and it is an easy gather for Pope.
Aston Villa 1-1 Newcastle
23. It was a bold claim from Martinez when he announced he was the best goalkeeper in the world.
His performances this season make you wonder if he is even the best keeper in Birmingham.
Far too many errors to even be considered in such a conversation.
Aston Villa 1-1 Newcastle
21. Big chance for Villa to restore their lead.
It is cut back from the byline with pace and finds an unmarked Asensio in the middle of the goal.
Somehow, he completely fluffs his lines as he almost misses the ball completely.
Credit: Reuters Van Hecke latest update
Jan Paul van Hecke has been taken away in an ambulance after his horror clash of heads this afternoon.
From SunSport's Matthew Dunn at the Gtech:
Van Hecke awake but just seen him stretchered into an ambulance in an oxygen mask still in his kit.
Nothing in the press conference but there was no particular bustle as he went and the ambulance did not have blues and twos on when it pulled away.
Family went to dressing room but were not with him in ambulance. Looks like it’s precautionary.
Aston Villa 1-1 Newcastle
19. As the initial free-kick is headed clear, Newcastle recycle it well.
Barnes swings a cross in to the back post where Schar ghosts in to head home.
Questions will be asked about Martinez being beaten so easily at his near post.
Goal - Fabian Schar (Newcastle)
Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle
17. Livramento is clattered into by Kamara.
The referee awards the visitors a free-kick in a wide position.
Aston Villa are dealing well with aerial threat so far.
Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle
15. As Aston Villa work a short corner, the ball is played out to Kamara outside the box.
He tries a first-time shot but it deflects wide of the goal.
Another chance to send the big defenders up.
Credit: PA Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle
13. Watkins looks to make a run in behind the Newcastle defence.
Schar hauls him to the ground and a free-kick is awarded.
Even more weirdly, the defender is only shown a yellow card despite being the last man.
Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle
11. We are back underway after some treatment.
Aston Villa look hungry to get that second goal.
They started the day five points behind The Magpies in the table.
Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle
9. Isak makes a good run in behind the Villa defence.
Guimaraes spots his movement but his threaded pass has too much pace on it
The hosts come forward but as a cross comes into the box, Pope does enough to get it away from goal under pressure from Asensio.
View from SunSport's Graeme Bryce at Villa Park
Newcastle have been on a high since landing their first domestic trophy for 70 years with their Carabao Cup victory over Liverpool.
They arrived at Villa Park looking down on Villa from third place on the back of six Premier League wins on the spin.
The Magpies have won five of their last six meetings with Villa - scoring at least three goals in each of their last three games against Unai Emery's men.
But Villa are on an 18-match unbeaten run at Villa Park and are determined to avenge their Boxing Day massacre when they were thumped 3- at St James' Park
Stand-in Newcastle boss Jason Tindall was at the centre of a 20-man brawl that day and Villa are out for revenge with Ollie Watkins back to lead the line.
This promises to be a spicy affair!
Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle
7. It is a feisty start to the game at Villa Park.
The hosts do not look confident in defence when put under pressure by this lively Magpies' attack.
Kamara is penalised for tugging back Joelinton to prevent a quick counter-attack.
Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle
5. Watkins is up for this game tonight.
He receives the ball and drives towards goal, getting a shot off from a tight angle.
It crashes against the underside of the crossbar and comes back into play.
So close to doubling the lead.
Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle
3. The Magpies need to show some attacking intent now.
All of the game plans go out of the window when you concede that early on.
Murphy looks to cross from out wide and wins a corner.
Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle
1. What a start to the game for the hosts.
Tielemans played it to Watkins in the box and his shot took a huge deflection off Schar, wrong-footing Pope.
Not that Villa will be complaining at all.
