The Fulham and Wales player has broken his right leg in several places, and may have also broken the other in the crash which happened in Bletchingley, Surrey.

One eyewitness was reported to have described Coleman's top-of-the-range Jaguar as a "complete write-off" after the accident on a lane in Outwood, near Bletchingley, Surrey.

The Swansea-born star was taken to the East Surrey Hospital in Redhill where he underwent emergency surgery.

"At this stage our thoughts are with Chris and we wish him a speedy and full recovery. Chris will be given the best possible care to aid this recovery."

The incident puts his place in Wales' March World Cup qualifiers in doubt and will also be a blow to Fulham's promotion campaign.

Only occupant

Police rushed to the scene of the crash in a tree-lined country road after the footballer's �35,000 Jaguar sports car spun out of control.

It smashed through a 4ft-high metal fence on a grass verge at the side of the road before ploughing into a tree.

A passer-by saw the smashed car and rang the police on his mobile phone.

Coleman, the only occupant of the car, was conscious but could not free himself. He was taken to East Surrey Hospital at about 2145 GMT on Tuesday.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash and will be speaking to Coleman to establish what happened - a routine procedure with any car crash.

"Police would do this with regards to any accident - and would be particularly keen as Mr Coleman's was the only vehicle involved," said a spokesperson for East Surrey Police.