McCombe 'Stable' Say Medics

Surgeons last night described Bristol City centre half, Jamie Mccombe's condition as 'stable' after the giant defender had spent the weekend under observation in the Royal Derby Hospital, following a clash with Derby County's Rob Hulse.

The incident, which saw McCombe sent crashing to the ground after a face to face confrontation with the Derby striker, took place just a few minutes into the second half of Bristol City's Championship game at Pride Park on Saturday. Despite sustaining what looked like quite nasty wind burn as he fell to the floor, McCombe bravely battled on for the visitors. But the defender was soon sent off as delayed embarrassment got the better of him and he mistimed a tackle on Hulse just minutes later, and was given his marching orders.

Speaking at the Royal Derby Hospital this morning, medics said, "Jamie Mccombe has spent a comfortable couple of nights in hospital under observation and his condition has stabilised. We expect him to be able to go home tomorrow, providing he doesn't suffer any complications, like a paper cut on a magazine or something like that."

The doctor went on, "You have to remember, Jamie is 6'7" tall and if you dropped a melon from that height onto concrete it would probably smash or at least get a big dent in it, I expect. Add that to the sudden surge of blood to his facial capillaries, which often follows an embarrassing bit of play-acting, and you can soon be looking at a serious incident."

Mccombe, who will miss Tuesday's match at Ashton Gate against Blackpool through suspension, should be available for the weekend game against Newcastle, and is also thought to be considering a role in panto this Christmas at the Bristol Hippodrome, playing a beanstalk that falls down after someone barely touches it.