Luton star Tom Lockyer to join Wales pals for reunion next week as he steps up recovery following cardiac arrest
TOM LOCKYER has accepted Robert Page’s invite to link up with the Wales squad next week.
The Luton skipper suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch against Bournemouth on December 16.
But Lockyer, 29, will have a reunion in Cardiff with his Welsh pals, who are gearing up for a crunch Euro 2024 play-off semi-final against Finland next Thursday.
Page, who named his 28-man squad on Wednesday, said: “I had a good conversation with Locks on Tuesday. He’ll be a part of it.
“We don’t know what days or for how long yet. But he’s keen to come in and we’re keen to have him around the lads.”
Lockyer played for Wales against Turkey in November’s Euro qualifier and the 1-1 draw set up their route via the play-offs.
Victory over Finland would tee up a final against either Poland or Estonia for a place at the finals in Germany this summer.
Lockyer was technically dead for two minutes and 40 seconds before medics resuscitated him at the Vitality Stadium.
He returned to Bournemouth for the rearranged Prem fixture last Wednesday and met the heroes who saved his life.
The Hatters centre-back had also collapsed during Luton’s Championship play-off victory over Coventry at Wembley last May and wants more people to learn CPR.
CHELTENHAM BETTING OFFERS – BEST FREE BET DEALS FOR THE FESTIVAL
And Page has revealed the Welsh squad including skipper Aaron Ramsey, Ben Davies and Kieffer Moore undertook a class last September to raise awareness.
Page added: “Yes, the medical team came in, we did the class. Tom is championing CPR at the minute, and rightly so.”
Wales have a tight-knit squad which his been strengthened by the medical case of Lockyer.
When he collapsed in the second half of fixture on the south coast, Dragons team-mates Chris Mepham, David Brooks and Kieffer Moore were all in the Bournemouth squad that day.
Brooks, now on loan at Southampton, has also made a full recovery from cancer and Page believes the unity in the Welsh ranks is powerful.
Page said: “There’s more to life than football, and when you see them on camp, take football away from it, they’re a good group together, they are good mates.
“I can only imagine how hard it was for Meps, Kieffer and Brooksy when they played that fixture and saw their mate on the floor like he was.
“They had contact straight after and they’ve been in touch since, but it’ll be nice to have them all back in the group together.
“Like I said, forget football, just being together as mates is powerful for them.”