BLIND: HE WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE EMOTIONS

CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN will face a rollercoaster of emotions when he plays for the first time since suffering a cardiac arrest in June. Eriksen, who has signed for Brentford, will follow in the footsteps of Holland international Daley Blind by playing with a defibrillator to monitor his heart. Blind (left) had the device implanted after being diagnosed with heart-muscle inflammation and has been able to continue his career at the highest level.

But the Ajax star had to be substituted during a pre-season game against Hertha Berlin in 2020 after the defibrillator went off. He was, however, able to walk off the pitch unaided.

The former Manchester United defender considered pulling out of Holland’s clash with Ukraine during Euro 2020 after seeing what his former Ajax team-mate Eriksen went through. And he has told his old pal to expect mental turmoil when he returns.

“The images of Eriksen in distress had a lot of impact and I didn’t sleep very well because of them,” 31-year-old Blind said.

Eriksen collapsed while playing for Denmark against Finland at Euro 2020 and his heart stopped beating.

“I really had to overcome a big hurdle to play,” Blind went on. “But I’m proud that I did it. Then all the emotions come out.”