Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
IT WILL BEE SO SPECIAL
Eriksen finally returns after Euros horror & boss Frank says: Christian will take it all in his stride
BRENTFORD NEWCASTLE UTD Premier League: 3pm
THOMAS FRANK believes Christian Eriksen’s appearance at the Brentford Community Stadium today puts the battle for Premier League points into perspective.
Eriksen, 30, will make an emotional return to action eight months after suffering a cardiac arrest during Denmark’s Euro 2020 clash with Finland.
The sight of the former Tottenham and Inter Milan midfielder receiving lengthy treatment on the pitch before being taken to hospital shocked millions – before the news he was recovering in hospital triggered an outpouring of relief.
Eriksen, who has been fitted with an implantable device to monitor his heart, joined Brentford last month and will take his next step as he resumes his career with Newcastle’s visit.
Bees boss Frank (right) said: “At the first meeting, where he stood up and talked to the players and the staff and said, ‘Don’t worry, I’m fine. I just want to play football, don’t hesitate in terms of kicking me down in training. I just want to be normal’. That was a big moment. “Then the more you train, the more it becomes more normal. But Saturday will be more special. “And there’s no doubt I will remind the players that basically we are playing a very important football match and doing everything we can to win.
“But there are things that are bigger and put life into perspective.” Frank insists the playmaker (recovering in hospital last June, below) will be the coolest person inside the stadium – despite the significance of the occasion.
The manager said: “He’s feeling good. He is a very calm guy, Christian. There are not a lot of big emotions. They are in him somewhere and of course it will be special when he goes onto the pitch.
“I haven’t even thought about asking him about it. That decision to continue his career, that was the biggest thing, I guess.
“But one thing he is looking forward to is playing football.
“We will need a few games to get him going to his maximum, but I would not put him in there if I didn’t think he could provide something now.”
Brentford have lost six of their last seven Premier League games and are in real danger of getting dragged into a relegation fight.
Frank added: “I am aware Newcastle are just around us in the table. It will be the smallest of margins which decides the game and maybe just one bit of magic.”