Tom Lockyer has been watching online compilations of himself playing. Just the odd video of his performances against Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United from 2023. “Just to remember what I was like when I was playing,” he smiles. “It was quite nice, it gives you confidence.”

Lockyer can be forgiven for the self-indulgence. It has been almost two years since he played. It’s easy to forget he was a Premier League captain the last time he took to the field, a stalwart of Luton Town’s defence with 16 caps for Wales.

A huge amount has changed since. On 16 December 2023, Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch at Bournemouth. His heart stopped for two minutes and 40 seconds before he was resuscitated and rushed to hospital.

He was fitted with an implantable cardioverter-de

See Full Page