Middlebrough midfielder Joseph-Desire Job was lucky to escape permanent brain damage after clashing heads with West Brom's Darren Moore, it has emerged.

Cameroon international Job was knocked out in the game at The Hawthorns on 30 November and Boro physio Bob Ward revealed that at the time he feared the worst.

His injury was as serious as you can sustain without permanent damage Boro physio Bob Ward

"I must admit, my heart was pounding when I arrived on the pitch," said Ward.

"Just after the blow he was fitting down his left hand side.

"The strongest part of Darren Moore's head, his forehead, hit the weakest part of Joseph's, his temple bone.

"Moore had concussion and received stitches in his forehead and was taken to hospital in an ambulance.

"Joseph was deeply unconscious for four-and-a-half minutes.

"He regained consciousness and I was able to check that he had not sustained any neck or spinal cord injury."

Ward reveals in Boro's matchday magazine that Job's inury was "as serious as you can sustain without permanent damage."

Job also lost his hearing for four days but a trip to a neurosurgeon revealed there was no serious damage and the Cameroon international is now back in training.

He said: "I can't remember any of it but it was frightening watching it again on the TV and seeing how serious it was."