ACCRINGTON Stanley boss Leam Richardson says Nicky Hunt will be given time to recover from severe concussion after the defender was discharged from hospital in Plymouth yesterday.

Stanley’s 0-0 draw at Plymouth was delayed for 10 minutes in the second half after the former Bolton right back was knocked unconscious following an accidental clash with Argyle’s Ronan Murray.

The worrying incident brought back memories of the serious head injury suffered last season by former Stanley loan defender Tom Bender, which forced the abandonment of a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie against Tranmere.

Hunt was rushed to Derriford Hospital but, as with Bender, scans found that Hunt suffered only severe concussion and he was discharged yesterday, returning back to the north west with his father.

“It was worrying and all we were concerned about was knowing he was okay,” Richardson said.

“But he has been discharged from hospital now, the second scans came back clear. It was a precaution.

“Our medical team will assess him now and give him time, and I will speak to him and see how he is.

“I’m sure he’ll pop his head in at the club at some point this week.”

Hunt was playing the final game of an initial month’s loan from Rotherham but the deal is likely to be extended, after the defender lost his place at the South Yorkshire club.

Richardson is also hopeful of making further additions to his squad before Thursday’s transfer deadline, with a goalkeeper his biggest priority.

And the Stanley boss was happy with the way his side coped with injuries to both Hunt and wide man Craig Lindfield in their draw at Plymouth.

Both sides are in relegation trouble and the result did see the Reds drop to within three points of the drop zone, but Richardson was encouraged by the performance – particularly given the circumstances.

“I was very pleased,” he said after the game. “The emphasis all week was to go down there and not get beat. As the game panned out we’re very unlucky we didn’t win the game – especially with the first half, when we dominated from start to finish.

“The pleasing thing was we had to chop and change a few positions because of injuries and we seemed to cope with it well. Because of their hard work and endeavour, the lads deserved a point at least.”