Eriksen ‘not scared’ to play with ICD implant in Premier League

Newly signed Brentford midfielder Christian Eriksen says he is not afraid to play with a heart-starting device implant in a physical league such as the Premier League.

Eriksen is now fitted with a heart-starting device known as an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) due to collapsing during a European Championship match in Copenhagen last June and was given life-saving CPR treatment.

In December, the 29-year-old had to terminate his contract with Serie A giants Inter Milan because footballers fitted with an ICD are not permitted to play in Italy. He has since penned a six-month with Brentford.

“I don’t really have any scared feelings about it, I don’t feel my ICD, so if it gets hit, I know it is safe enough,” Eriksen told BBC Sport.

“I am not scared of the challenges ahead and the bullies in the game, no.”

The Denmark international stated that the doctors believe his cardiac arrest was a one-time occurrence as he had neither any history of cardiac issues nor family problems.

“I have been cleared to do everything from the doctors, so in that sense, it doesn’t really matter what was the reason,” he added.

“Continuously, I have been given the green light that everything is OK for the future.

“I don’t see any risk, no. I have an ICD; if anything would happen, then I am safe.”

Eriksen, who was at Tottenham Hotspur for seven years prior to his transfer to Inter in 2020, admitted that he is not yet ready to play his first competitive match since his collapse.

“I have done a lot of running and a lot of tests, so the condition is good, but the football touch is something you get in games. To get there is still a few more weeks,” he concluded.

RELATED STORY:OFFICIAL: Man United complete the signing of ex-Tottenham star