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Barnsley are considering legal action over the incident that saw Iain Hume put into intensive care with a fractured skull during the derby match against Sheffield United.

Reds manager Simon Davey said that the club could take measures after seeing former Barnsley skipper Chris Morgan elbow striker Hume in the 2-1 defeat at Oakwell - and said the Canadian had been moved from a high dependency unit to a Manchester hospital ward.

"The club may be seeking legal advice on the matter," he told BBC radio. "We've ended up with a life-threatening injury and a player in a hospital bed."

He told the South Yorkshire club's website: "I went to see Iain yesterday (Monday) evening and he is conscious, although he has not slept since the incident and he is not the most talkative.

"He is out of the high dependency unit now and they have moved him on to a hospital ward, which is good news, although he has tubes sticking out of his head.

"The operation went well, but he is very down and very angry. He has a scar that runs from his forehead in the shape of a horseshoe right round to his ear. He is black and blue, his head is swollen and he is a mess."

Hume, 25, was stood waiting to challenge for an aerial ball with Morgan and went to ground clutching his face, in full view of referee Andy D'Urso - but the Blades defender was only shown a yellow card.

"He got caught in the face with an elbow. The decision not to show a red card was an absolute disgrace," Davey, who was later sent to the stands for his protestations over a late penalty awarded to United, said.

"Iain is now in hospital with a fractured skull because of that challenge - one that seemingly warranted only a yellow card."

Davey and his assistant Ryan Kidd confronted D'Urso at half-time.

Sheffield United released a statement concerning Hume's condition.

"Sheffield United are saddened and concerned to hear that Barnsley striker Iain Hume is being monitored in a high dependency unit following last Saturday's fixture. We wish him a speedy and full recovery."

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport