Kolkata, Nov 14 (IANS): East Bengal defender Mehtab Singh and Siddharth Singh, who is on trial from Jamshedpur FC, on Wednesday suffered head injuries due to an aerial concussion during practice at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan here.

Mehtab was the worst affected as he was seen with a bloody forehead and lay unconscious for sometime before being rushed to the hospital where he had 18 stitches.

"Mehtab is now out of danger but he is being kept under observation," an East Bengal official said.

Striker Siddharth was released after he had six stitches.

The incident happened during the practice when the duo jumped for an aerial ball as their heads clashed against each other.

East Bengal had suffered a shock defeat to surprise league leaders Chennai City FC on Tuesday, and head coach Alejandro Menendez had called the reserve team players for the practice.

Mehtab was named as a substitute but did not play in their 1-2 loss to Chennai City FC in the I-League on Tuesday. Mehtab was a key defender and played all the matches during their Calcutta Football League Premier A tournament.