SOCCER ace Ryan Mason was last night celebrating the news he’s to be a dad – just months after cheating death with a horror head injury.
The former Spurs star, who suffered a terrifying injury against Chelsea, is expecting with stunning lover Rachel Peters.
Romantic Ryan, who suffered a fractured skull in a sickening clash of heads, whisked gorgeous Rachel away in January and presented her with a sparkler.
Delighted Rachel shared pictures of the special moment as she cuddled Ryan – who switched to Hull from Tottenham last year – with the Dubai skyline in the background.
Now they are pregnant and have told thrilled family and friends their happy news.
Rachel, an economic graduate from York, took to social media to inform all of her pals: “When two becomes three, baby mason.”
The couple celebrated with a trip to Portugal.
A friend of the couple told The Sun: “This is the best news any of us have heard for ages, coming so soon after Ryan’s horrible injury.
“They are a lovely couple and deserve every moment of happiness.
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“Rachel has had her 12 week scan and the couple are so in love with their unborn child already.
“It really has been a rollercoaster year.”
Brunette Rachel has shared photos on Instagram with her first signs of a bump in her tummy.
The couple faced the biggest challenge of their relationship as Ryan recovered from a serious head injury.
The midfielder underwent surgery after sustaining the fracture last season.
The 25-year-old collided with Chelsea’s Gary Cahill during the first half of a match at Stamford Bridge, needing lengthy attention on the pitch and oxygen before being carried off on a stretcher.
He was taken to the acute trauma centre at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, where he received immediate treatment for a bleed on the brain.
The clash of heads, described as ‘horrific’ by many watching on, and subsequent concerns for Mason’s health witnessed an outpouring of good wishes on social media.
A number of guests stopped by the hospital to check in on him including his dad, Cahill and Chelsea captain John Terry, as well as Tigers skipper Michael Dawson.
Hull later calmed concerns by issuing a statement to confirm the player was stable after surgery.
Both the Tigers’ and Chelsea’s medical staff were praised by brain injury charity Headway for their ‘”exemplary reaction” to the incident.
Many of the player’s team-mates took to social media to send their thoughts and prayers.
Ahmed Elmohamady wrote, “get well soon mate”, while Alex Bruce added “praying Ryan Mason will be ok”.
There was also a get well soon message from Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale, an ex-team-mate of Ryan’s from their Tottenham days.
He said: “Get well soon Mase. Thoughts are with you and your family. Stay strong.”
Ryan later said the life-threatening collision felt “Like a bomb going off in my head”.
Last night Ryan’s agent confirmed that he and Rachel are expecting their first child.