Australian midfielder Chris Herd has been taken to hospital after a head clash during Aston Villa’s 1-1 draw with Stoke City.

The incident occurred in the 88th minute of Monday’s English Premier League match at Villa Park when the 23-year-old from Perth collided with Stoke goalscorer Robert Huth.

Herd landed on his head after the collision and play was delayed while he underwent lengthy treatment, before he was taken from the field on a stretcher and replaced by Emile Heskey.

“He felt sick after the game and has gone to hospital for a check-up but wasn’t unconscious so hopefully there is no concussion,” Villa boss Alex McLeish said of Herd after the match.

The injury comes two days after Herd opened his senior account during Villa’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool, his efforts attracting praise from McLeish.

In other Monday matches Fulham and Chelsea couldn’t break a 1-1 score line at Craven Cottage.

Australian keeper Mark Schwarzer conceded a Frank Lampard penalty shot awarded amid controversy right on halftime.

The home side managed to neutralise the result in the 82nd minute as a Clint Dempsey header glanced off Chelsea’s Gary Cahill to find the net.

At Goodison Park Australia’s Tim Cahill was rested by Everton manager David Moyes ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final with Liverpool.

The midfielder’s absence, along with that of teammates Leighton Baines and Nikica Jelavic, was not felt by the Toffees who scored a 4-0 win over Sunderland.