By Paul Jones
Tom Lockyer will link up with his Wales teammates for their Euro 2024 play-off campaign next week.
The defender has not played since suffering a cardiac arrest during Luton Town’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth in December – a contest that was ultimately suspended and replayed on Wednesday.
But ahead of Wales’ play-off semi-final fixture with Finland and potential final against Poland or Estonia, boss Rob Page revealed 16-cap international Lockyer was eager to be reunited with the Red Dragons squad.
“I had a good conversation with Locks yesterday, he’ll be a part of it,” said Page.
“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.”
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Lockyer’s heart problem before Christmas came little more than six months after the defender collapsed due to an atrial flutter during Luton’s Championship play-off final win over Coventry City at Wembley.
Following his heart issues, Lockyer urged people to learn CPR, with the Football Association of Wales’ own medics giving the Welsh senior team CPR and defibrillator training in September.
And boss Page expects the Wales squad to relish the opportunity to have Lockyer back in camp this month.
“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,” said Page.
“I can only imagine how hard it was for Meps (Chris Mepham), Kieffer (Moore) and Brooksy (David Brooks) when they played that fixture and saw their mate on the floor like he was. I can only imagine how hard it would have been for them.
“They’d have 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.”
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Wales take on Finland at Cardiff City Stadium in the Euro play-off semi-final on Thursday, March 21.
They will face either Poland or Estonia in the Welsh capital five days later.
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