Zander injured in bizarre accident

ATHLETIC defender Zander Diamond was taken to hospital last night for an X-ray on his neck as a result of a bizarre warm-up injury.

The Scottish centre-back had to be carried off the field at the B2net Stadium after falling awkwardly.

“It was a freak thing. In the warm-up he took a knock to the head and as he landed he damaged something in his neck,” said Athletic manager Paul Dickov.

Diamond was still being assessed at Chesterfield Royal Hospital when the team left the stadium.

James Tarkowski took Diamond’s place in the starting line-up, with David Mellor moving up to the substitute’s bench.

Also missing was captain Dean Furman, who could return for the npower League One game at home to Exeter on Saturday.

“Dean is touch and go,” Dickov added. “He injured his knee at Huddersfield and wasn’t quite right for the game so we will assess him again.”