"Ex-Premier League Star, 37, Hospitalized with Rare Injury Following Intense Match Collision"

A FORMER Premier League ace suffered a nasty pancreas injury following a scary pitch collision in Brazil.

, 37, was taken to hospital during Chapecoense’s Sunday Copa do Brasil clash against Cruzeiro.

The former , and ace was caught by opposition player Kaique Kenji at the very end of the first-half.

Both stars challenged for the ball inside the penalty area but the winger went down and immediately clutched his stomach.

Having stayed down, medics were quick to rush onto the pitch.

Bolasie was soon able to exit the field after receiving treatment BUT he could not carry on in the second-half.

He was later sent to the hospital by club doctors, where they revealed he had suffered an injury to his pancreas.

While it is extremely uncommon in football, reports from Brazil suggest he is set to spend several weeks in recovery.

The extent of the injury has not been confirmed by the club or their medical staff, so fans will be left waiting to learn the date of his return.

The first leg ended goalless but the return fixture is scheduled at Cruzeiro’s Mineirao on Wednesday.

The international is still fairly new to Chapecoense, having arrived earlier this year.

But fans will remember his Prem flair after spending four seasons with Palace, making 144 appearances across all competitions – scoring 13 times.

His box office performances earned him a £25million move to Everton in 2016, before later spells at Villa, Middlesbrough and Swansea.

Since leaving England, the globetrotter has also played in Turkey and Brazil, turning out for Caykur Rizespor and Criciama before joining his current side.

Eze Chidiebere Paul

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