Relegation-threatened Burnley earned a 1-1 draw at West Ham in its first match since the shock departure of manager Sean Dyche, but the match was overshadowed by a shocking ankle injury to Ashley Westwood on Monday (AEST).
The Burnley midfielder’s leg seemed to buckle underneath him as he challenged for the ball with Nikola Vlasic.
A stretcher and oxygen were immediately brought on, while Vlasic and Aaron Cresswell, who was closest to the incident, looked distraught and had to be comforted by teammates.
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“He’s gone to hospital and we’re waiting for an update. We’re hoping he’s OK and our thoughts are with him,” Burnley’s interim coach Mike Jackson said after the match.
“You could see it wasn’t good from the reaction of the players. He looked distraught.”
There was a nine-minute delay while Westwood was treated.
Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope said he and the rest of the team would do their part in supporting the midfielder.
“Everyone at the club, myself and all the boys, will wish him the best and speak to him,” Pope said.
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“I’ve got no news, but I’m sending my love to him.
“He’s a big part of how we play, a character in the dressing room and someone that’s been a top player for us over a number of years – to see that happen to anyone is not great, but for Ashley, it’s extra difficult.”
Westwood’s injury left many fans and pundits flocking to social media to show their support.
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Meanwhile, there was muted joy for Burnley minutes after the injury when Wout Weghorst rose above Tomas Soucek to head in the rebound after Jay Rodriguez’s header came back off the crossbar in the 33rd minute.
Weghorst pointed at the bench in support of Westwood.
Burnley should have doubled its lead after Maxwel Cornet was brought down by goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski. But after picking himself up, Cornet sent Burnley’s first penalty of the season wide.
Soucek then levelled in the 74th when he bundled in Manuel Lanzini’s free kick with his shoulder.
West Ham came closest to a winner but was denied three times by goalkeeper Nick Pope, who tipped a fierce drive from Michail Antonio over and blocked Issa Diop’s header before thwarting Antonio again in a one-on-one.
Burnley, with under-23 coach Jackson in charge following Dyche’s firing, is now three points behind Everton, which is in 17th place and just out of the relegation zone. Everton has played one less game.
West Ham, which reached the Europa League semifinals on Thursday, is in seventh place.
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