Hearts allay skull fracture fear for Ismael Bouzid

Bouzid was put in a neck brace and taken straight to hospital in London

Hearts' Ismael Bouzid will be released from a London hospital on Sunday after fears that he had fractured his skull proved unfounded.

The Algerian defender landed awkwardly after challenging for a header during a 3-2 friendly win at Millwall.

But he has been given the all clear after being observed overnight.

"We would like to thank Millwall for their support," said a club spokesman. "They were first class during a very difficult situation."

Bouzid was put in a neck brace after receiving attention on the field and rushed to King's College Hospital.

Manager Jim Jefferies announced on Saturday evening that the early suggestions were that the player had suffered a fracture.

However, the player will now return to Edinburgh with head physio Rob Marshall.

"We are obviously relieved to hear that Ismael's injury is not as bad as feared and we look forward to welcoming him home," added the spokesman on the club's website.

Eggert Johnsson netted an early penalty for Hearts at the New Den but Millwall hit back to take the lead after Bouzid's injury ten minutes before the interval.

However, Craig Thomson rattled in two fabulous free kicks to win the game, which served as a testimonial for the home side's Neil Harris.

He curled in a beauty from 25 yards on 68 minutes and bettered that effort late on with a blistering strike from further out.

"It's always nice to win but the performance was excellent," enthused Jefferies.

"We were by far the better team in the opening 35 minutes until the injury. That took the wind from our sails.

"I had to tell Craig Thomson to take the free kick at the end. It was a better distance than the first one and we were screaming at him to have another go.

"It was two fantastic free kicks from him."