Liverpool youngster Rhian Brewster required oxygen after suffering a horror injury to his leg during an Under 23 match against Manchester City on Friday night.
The striker, who starred for England under 17s during their World Cup win in October, landed very awkwardly after jumping for an aerial challenge and grabbed his leg in apparent agony.
Medical staff were soon waved on by the referee and play was stopped for five minutes as they carefully loaded him onto a stretcher while administering oxygen.
A statement on Liverpool's official website confirmed he would be assessed in hospital on Friday night while Under-23 manager Neil Critchley admitted they were already fearing the worst.
Speaking after the Premier League 2 game, U23s manager Neil Critchley said: 'It's not looking good. He fell awkwardly and it's down towards the bottom near his ankle.
'He will be going to hospital. I don't want to speculate too much at the moment but he's in a lot of pain and hopefully it's not as bad as it looks, but we fear the worst a little bit at the moment.'
In a game that Manchester City would eventually go on to win 3-2 thanks to goals from Lorenzo Gonzalez, Rabbi Matondo and Felix Nmecha, there was also another unfortunate injury suffered by Citizens starlet Benjamin Garre.
The young Argentine also required oxygen after a seemingly innocuous collision with a Liverpool star Harry Wilson and play was stopped for six minutes while medical staff carefully loaded him onto a stretcher.
Brewster is widely considered to be one of England's brightest young prospects after finishing the top scorer at last autumn's Under 17 World Cup. He also made headlines earlier this month by bravely coming forward to reveal the racial abuse he has suffered in his short career.