Hull City midfielder Ryan Mason was sadly forced to retire earlier this week, 13 months after suffering a horrendous collision of heads with Chelsea skipper Gary Cahill.The 26-year-old England international was hoping to make a full recovery but was told by his doctors that it would not be possible."Over the last year, I've been giving by absolute all to get back on that football pitch and I was 100% sure that that would happen," said Mason to Tigers TV upon announcing his retirement.However, a recent CT scan showed the effects of the injury were more serious than had previously been realised.Mason therefore announced his immediate retirement from the game.

Cahill sends tweet to Mason

The "devastated" Chelsea defender took to social media just hours after the Hull midfielder confirmed his retirement.

It must be noted that it was nothing more than an accidental collision.

"Devastated to hear today’s news from Ryan," wrote Cahill. "Competing for a corner is something we’ve done thousands of times and to see those consequences for a top professional like Ryan is heartbreaking.

"Sending all my love to him and his family, and wishing him the best for the future."

What Crouch said about Gary Cahill

Veteran Stoke City striker Peter Crouch reached out to Cahill in his latest Friday column for the Daily Mail.

"Ryan was a young lad coming through the ranks at Tottenham when I was there," Crouch wrote in his column in the Daily Mail. "He was a lovely footballer and we all knew it would only be a matter of time before he got to play in the Premier League. He eventually got the chance under Mauricio Pochettino.

"I've been kicked in the face, knocked out, elbowed and lost teeth but the injury Ryan suffered during a game at Chelsea 12 months ago was on an altogether different level.

"It must be stressed that there was absolutely no blame attached to Gary Cahill.

"I have read that he [Cahill] is devastated by Ryan having to retire but it wasn't his — or anyone else's — fault. These type of accidents can occur at any time on the pitch.

"Nobody will be more devastated than Ryan, who has seen his promising career end when it should be taking off. It will hurt but he will have been given the right advice and this is the right decision."

Crouchy is spot on - Cahill deserves to have a clear conscience.