[Getty Images]BBCFri, November 28, 2025 at 12:20 PM UTC·1 min readBournemouth captain Adam Smith has explained what it was like to go through a concussion protocol after he clashed heads with team-mate Tyler Adams in the match against Aston Villa earlier in the month.
The full-back returned to the matchday squad last weekend in the draw against West Ham, but could only feature as an 86th-minute substitute.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"I feel OK now," Smith said. "The stitches weren't nice and probably left a scar, but it is what it is and I couldn't do anything about it.
"[The protocol] is not enjoyable. It's rest for 48 hours and then just 10 days of doing all sorts of tests - mental tests, physical tests - to make sure we're recovering and don't get any symptoms, to see if we're OK to get back to training after 12 days.
"So it was a long 12 days and a long protocol to do, but obviously it helped that Tyler was doing it with me. It wasn't nice but we're lucky it wasn't anything serious."
The 34-year-old missed the opening part of the season because of a thigh injury and only returned to selection after the October international break.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"I'd worked so hard to get back from injury and get back to full fitness and I had my opportunity and then that [head injury] happens so it wasn't great. But that's life I suppose, everyone goes through ups and downs and it's nothing I haven't been through before."
