Wales defender Lockyer eyeing Premier League after all

Dec 22, 2023

WALES defender Tom Lockyer is ready for the Premier League after being given the all clear to resume his career with Luton following heart surgery.

The 28-year-old collapsed in the eighth minute of the Championship play-off final at Wembley, which the Hatters went on to win on penalties against Coventry City.

Lockyer received lengthy treatment on the pitch before being taken to the Cleveland Clinic in London where he had an operation with specialists giving him the green light to carry on with his career.

"I had an atrial fibrillation, which is basically the top part of my heart was beating four times faster than it should have been," said Lockyer.

"There's not really any reason to say why that happened, but I’ve had the operation to fix it and it shouldn't happen again.

"I’ve been given the all clear, it is what it is and I just want to draw a line under it now and move on."

Lockyer scored in the play-off semi-final win against Sunderland and went close to opening the scoring against the Sky Blues before the incident.

Luton's Tom Lockyer is treated after collapsing at Wembley (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

"I remember running backwards and then I went really light-headed and my legs went really weak straight away, as I was running back," he said.

"I remember stumbling back and then all I remember was [physiotherapist] Chris Phillips over the top of me, and he was saying 'Locks, you're coming off'.

"I was like 'no mate, no mate, I'm fine', but he was saying 'no, it's serious Locks, you've collapsed. You're coming off'.

"Then it dawned on me that I was on the floor and this is actually serious. I just got really emotional. I couldn't stop crying on the floor.

"It was probably a lot worse for everyone else watching than it was for me because as soon as I came back around, I was fine. I never really felt in any danger and it definitely wasn't as bad as it looked."

Lockyer was able to watch his teammates win the penalty shootout to secure Luton's return to the top flight before they then held his shirt aloft while celebrating.

"It was a day of mixed emotions," Lockyer said. "It was crazy. All week I'd been visualising walking up those steps to that trophy and to end it in a hospital bed is not quite what I had in mind.

"But I was immensely proud to lead the lads out at Wembley. I was obviously delighted but so sad at the same time that after 50-odd games in a season, it all comes down to this one massive game and I don't play a part in it, and I don't get to enjoy the celebrations afterwards.

"So it was a hard watch if I'm being honest, but I'm so delighted that the lads could get the job done. It made it so much better for me.

"It made those five days in hospital after a lot easier. I think if we had lost, those five days would have been horrendous, but they made it a lot smoother for me."