Colchester United defender Tom Bender, who has suffered suspected head injuries playing on loan for Accrington Stanley tonight, is rated as a hot prospect by the U’s.

The 18-year-old defender, who has progressed through the U’s youth ranks, was handed his first-team debut by former manager Aidy Boothroyd in September, 2009.

He came on as a second-half substitute in their home game with Hartlepool United to become the second youngest-ever player to represent the club, at the age of 16 years and 243 days.

Soon after, Bender went on to sign his first professional contract, in January 2010.

He has been a regular for Colchester’s reserve side and has also been called up regularly for Wales under-21s, having already represented them at under-17 and under-19 level.

He joined League Two side Accrington on August 30 on a season-long loan and was making only his third appearance for Stanley when he suffered the serious injury, in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy second round northern section.

Bender was left unconscious for 25 minutes after colliding with his goalkeeper Ian Dunbavin and Tranmere's Lucas Akin.

He was treated with oxygen and on a drip as he left on an ambulance, when he was taken to hospital for observation.

The tie was briefly re-started but was abandoned soon after in the 38th minute.

Many of Bender’s U’s team-mates and colleagues, fans and friends have already expressed their best wishes to the young defender on Twitter.

And former Blackburn Rovers and Wales midfielder Robbie Savage tweeted: “Hope young Tom Bender is going to be ok. My thoughts are with him and [his] family.”

See the Gazette website for more on this story as it develops.