Brentford star Eriksen returns to Denmark squad following cardiac arrest

News Desk
Brentford star Eriksen

Nine months after he suffered a cardiac arrest, Brentford star Christian Eriksen has been named in Denmark’s squad for their upcoming international friendlies.

The 30-year-old’s heart stopped last June during the European Championships. He had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) fitted so he could continue playing.

Eriksen signed for Brentford in January. He has played the full 90 minutes in back-to-back Premier League games and he got an assist against Burnley.


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That has been enough for head coach Kasper Hjulmand to bring him straight back into the squad for matches against Holland on March 26 and Serbia three days later.

It is sure to be an emotional return for the playmaker, whose side went on to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2020.

The match against Serbia will be Eriksen’s first return to Parken, where the incident happened in a group game against Finland.

A statement on the Danish football association’s website read: “Now we do not have to wait or wonder anymore.

“Christian Eriksen was in fact on the list of the 23 selected by national coach Kasper Hjulmand during today’s national team selection.

“Thus, the Danish number 10 returns to the national team jersey for the first time since his cardiac arrest in the European Championship match against Finland on June 12.”

Thomas Frank believes Eriksen has the potential to be Brentford’s “best signing ever”

“It was a quality cross from Eriksen and a great header from Ivan,” the Bees boss said. “We’ve seen things like that against us a few times this season, but this time it was a bit of quality from us.

“There is still more to come from him. Maybe not 10 top crosses a game, but more sharpness in the big moments. He’s at a good level now but the last bit will take some time.

“For me [signing Eriksen] was not a gamble. I was convinced he could help us and that he could be the best signing ever for Brentford.

“It was not an injury, it was a heart condition. So he wouldn’t have lost any speed or anything. There’s a mental issue but when he decided he wanted to play that was it.”