Following the sickening collision that left him unconscious on the field in last night's match against Adelaide, Gold Coast United defender John Curtis will have scans on his injured shoulder today.

Curtis fell heavily after contesting a 50/50 ball in true full-blooded fashion with Adelaide's Paul Reid, the Gold Coast man coming off worse as he thumped into the ground.

The unpleasant incident caused immediate concern from Gold Coast's players who instantly signalled to the bench that their teammate was in bad shape.

The former Manchester United defender was stretchered from the field in a precautionary neck brace then taken to hospital after the match, but thankfully he was cleared of any serious head or neck injury.

The potential shoulder problem is now the primary concern for both United and Curtis, who had been enjoying a fine run of form for Miron Bleiberg's men in the right-back role.