Cech offers support to Hull's Mason: 'Happy to share my experience'

Nobody in the Premier League knows the horrors of what Ryan Mason is going through in his recovery from a fractured skull like Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech.

After going through a similar incident, the Arsenal 'keeper reached out to the hull City midfielder, who suffered the injury during his team's loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Jan. 22.

"I offered him my support because I have experience in what he’s going through, and I'm happy to share my experience if it helps him," Cech told Arsenal Player.

It's been more than 10 years since Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt's knee collided with Cech, leaving the netminder - who featured between the sticks for Chelsea at the time - with a depressed skull fracture.

"The possibility to be able to offer him my experience, it was the first thing I had in my mind to do," he added. "I'm obviously glad that he's back home and that he's started his recovery process. Hopefully he will get well very soon."

Similar to Mason, doctors who treated Cech said the injury could have cost him his life had he not been attended to in a timely manner before undergoing surgery.

According to him, having someone to speak with who's experienced a similar injury can be vital during the recovery process.

"It can obviously help because you have a lot of doubts, a lot of questions, and nobody seems to have the answer," he said. "You can have someone who went through that and they can tell you not to worry about it, it will just take time and that you can carry on doing what you're doing."

Cech - who was sidelined for just over three months - has been forced to wear a protective, rugby-style helmet, which has become a trademark of the 34-year-old, and an increasingly common sight among goalkeepers of all ages.