Albion boss Chris Hughton believes Ryan Mason's strength of character will help him recover from his sickening injury.

Hull midfielder Mason is in a stable condition following surgery for a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain after a clash of heads with Chelsea's Gary Cahill at Stamford Bridge yesterday.

Hughton, who knows Mason from his time at Spurs, said: "I saw the incident yesterday and would like to applaud the medical people and the referee's decision to get the medical people on straight away.

"I'm very confident he is in the best place and will make a full recovery. I know Ryan well, he is a wonderful young footballer.

"I've known him from his early years, saw him develop, and he's done really well for himself. I absolutely wish him all the best.

"He's a tough lad, a nice lad, and he has been brought up the right way in football terms, had a good few loans before he made his debut at Spurs.

"He's quite a late developer in that sense, but on the pitch he's got a bit of an edge about him which shows real good character.

"I'm very confident he has that type of character to come through."