Premier League game forced  into lengthy stoppage and Brighton star is given oxygen following sickening head injury

Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke was forced off on a stretcher after suffering a nasty head injury during his side’s clash with Brentford. 

The Seagulls suffered a 4-2 defeat the the Gtech Community Stadium to stretch their winless run in the Premier League to five. 

And Fabian Hurzeler’s side will be left sweating on Van Hecke’s health after he clashed heads with Yunus Konak. 

The incident occurred deep into stoppage-time, and the Dutchman required treatment, including an oxygen mask. 

Van Hecke briefly briefly sat up before being laid back down and stretchered off by medical staff.

He was applauded by both sets of supporters as he was taken down the tunnel, with the defender then replaced by January signing Eiran Cashin.  

The Dutch defender clashed heads with Brentford’s Yunus Konak deep into stoppage-time

Brighton defender Van Hecke briefly sat up before being laid back down and taken off 

Meanwhile, Brentford’s Konak also needed to be substituted – but he managed to walk off without any medical assistance.  

The match then resumed, with 10 extra minutes added into stoppage-time.

Brighton will have to keep an eye on Van Hecke ahead of facing West Ham next Saturday due to the Premier League’s concussion guidelines. 

Players suspected of having a concussion are not allowed to return to play for a minimum of six days. 

Brighton took the lead inside six minutes thanks to Bryan Mbeumo’s penalty before Danny Welbeck equalised for the hosts just before the break. 

Mbeumo regained Brentford’s lead three minutes into the second-half and Yan Wissa added a third goal for the Bees after 58 minutes. 

Brighton striker Joao Pedro was then shown a red for lashing out at defender Nathan Collins in an off-the-ball incident. 

Karou Mitoma put Brighton within one-goal eight minutes before time – but Christian Norgaard sealed victory for Brentford in the fifth minute of additional time.