Jake lifted by Mason news

JAKE LIVERMORE “feared the worst” when close friend Ryan Mason was left needing surgery for a fractured skull after a sickening clash of heads with Chelsea’s Gary Cahill.

Livermore described his horror at hearing the Hull midfielder had been taken to hospital on Sunday and said Mason’s friends were “praying” for a speedy recovery.

Livermore, who played with Mason, above, at Tottenham and Hull before last week’s move to West Brom, said his friend is bearing up well, with Hull stating that the player is making “excellent progress”.

Livermore said: “I haven’t bombarded him with calls but I’ve kept in touch with the doctor at Hull and a few of the other boys.

“From what we hear, he’s making excellent progress. He’s a great friend of mine, a great lad and a great player as well. “Hopefully that speedy recovery continues. We’re all thinking about him. “You fear the worst when something like that happens to any footballer. Being so close and very fresh in the mind makes it worse. I only spoke to him a few days ago, he wished me well here.”

Hull said: “Ryan continues to make excellent progress.” JOSE MOURINHO will again resist the attempts of Anthony Martial’s representatives to secure a loan move for the striker away from Manchester United.

Martial, 21, was left out of last Saturday’s trip to Stoke after Sevilla were said to be keen on taking him on loan.

But Mourinho’s squad looks thin after recent departures and Martial, right, is set to play in the EFL Cup semifinal at Hull tomorrow.