Carlisle United boss Paul Simpson has sent his best wishes to the young Nottingham Forest player who suffered a serious injury at Brunton Park.

Sam Collins had to be stretchered off late in the game after a challenge with Blues midfielder Owen Moxon.

Simpson said he feared the visiting Under-21 captain may have broken his leg - and Collins has since confirmed he has broken his tibia.

In a post on social media the Forest player said: "Lads were unreal last night. Gutted to find out that I’ve broken my tibia and will be facing a few months on the sidelines. Will do everything I possibly can to come back physically and mentally stronger and better than ever before."

Simpson said everyone’s thoughts at the club were with the 19-year-old.

“You don’t like to see those things,” said United's boss, speaking after the game.

“I was concerned when Mox went for it, I thought it was a dangerous tackle for both of them to go in for.

“I don’t think either of them have tried to do anything to each other, they’ve both just gone full-blooded.

“Obviously our thoughts are with him and I hope he gets a speedy recovery from that. That’s the real downer on the night.”

News and Star: Paul Simpson has sent the Forest U21 captain the club's best wishesPaul Simpson has sent the Forest U21 captain the club's best wishes (Image: Ben Holmes)

Collins received lengthy treatment before being carried off on a stretcher in the 90th minute of his side’s 2-0 EFL Trophy group stage victory.

Simpson said he feared for the outcome the moment he saw the players going in to the challenge.

“It’s one of those things that you call a leg-breaking tackle, and I think there’s a strong possibility that he’s got a broken leg,” added the Blues boss.

“It sounded like it when he went in.

“As soon as they were both going for it, I started to wince because I knew it was one of those horrible situations. I don’t think there was any malice from either player or intent to hurt each other – Mox has taken a touch and at the time it looked like another defender was the closest one to come, and this lad’s come from the side.

“He’s got his foot to the ball first and Mox has tried to just put his foot through it and caught the lad. It’s just horrible for the boy that he’s picked up the injury.

“It was a tackle [where] I was thinking, ‘No, don’t go for it, just back out’. Mox said he couldn’t back out at that point but I told him at 2-0 down with two minutes to go, you do pull out of those sorts of challenges.

“Unfortunately they’re leg-breaking tackles and one person has come out of it on the bad side of that.”