Christian Eriksen says he's ready for his playing comeback with Brentford.
Today, less than eight months after having a cardiac arrest on the pitch while playing for Denmark, he's preparing for a Premier League return as he begins training with his new team.
The Bees' new signing will play with a pacemaker-type device called an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) — and he is the only known Premier League player who has the implement, which can restart his heart.
He revealed: “Worst case, if it happens again, this thing helps me right away. It's very reassuring."
But he isn't content with merely returning to British top-flight football.
Eriksen revealed: “My goal is to play at the World Cup in Qatar. This has been my mindset all along.
“I'm sure I can come back because I don't feel any different. Physically, I'm back in top shape."
Eriksen says he's not worried “in the slightest" about collapsing again.
He said: “I have been cleared and monitored and tested.
“I worried I would be afraid there (the pitch) but I'm not. So people can stop worrying."
After his first training session with the Bees today, manager Frank will assess when he can start his first game.
The club's head coach said: “It is going to be an unbelievable day when he steps on to the pitch.
“It is a little bit of a miracle that he wants to play football again."
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