SUNDERLAND manager Roy Keane tonight spoke of his shock after one of the team's players, on loan at another club, collapsed in the dressing room.

The incident involving defender Clive Clarke, 27, was taken so seriously the Carling Cup match he was playing in was abandoned.

The Irishman is presently on a three-month loan at Leicester City.

Speaking tonight Mr Keane said: "He is conscious now and, please God, lets hope he is OK.

"It was a major shock, he is one of our players and he is a good lad."

Mr Keane said the club would be finding out the latest information on the player's condition, "As soon as we can."

Mr Clarke collapsed at half-time in a Carling Cup match at Nottingham Forest, leading to the match being abandoned.

The player, who joined Leicester from the Black Cats on loan two weeks ago, was given medical attention in an ambulance at the City Ground.

The start of the second half was initially delayed, before the managers of the teams, Colin Calderwood and Leicester's Martin Allen announced the game was being abandoned.

Leicester chief executive Tim Davies said the Irish player was "seriously ill."

He was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Nottingham.