Eriksen preparing for RETURN to football - despite being warned 'it's just a matter of time'

Christian Eriksen is set to continue his rehabilitation back home in Denmark after he collapsed for a second time last month.

The former Manchester United and Tottenham star clutched his chest and fell to the floor during Denmark's friendly against Ukraine on June 7, almost five years after he suffered a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020.

His implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) - which was installed in 2021 - intervened and provided a shock to restore his heart's rhythm.

Eriksen provided an update the following day after receiving treatment in hospital, insisting the situation was 'different to 2021' and that he was 'feeling good', yet it has been unclear ever since what will happen next in regards to his playing career.

And on Thursday, Wolfsburg, where the midfielder is under contract until next summer, released a statement sharing further news after he didn't join up with the Bundesliga 2 side at the start of pre-season.

'Christian Eriksen will soon begin an individual rehabilitation programme,' the statement read.

'After a conversation with VfL managing director Dieter Hecking, it was decided that the 34-year-old will complete this in his home country of Denmark.

'VfL is in regular contact with Christian as well as the treating physicians. For the course of his rehabilitation, we continue to wish Christian all the best.'

Eriksen's decision to begin an individual rehabilitation programme comes despite the warnings of many leading medics, including Henning Molgaard, a Danish heart expert, who told Danish outlet Bold that Eriksen should not return to football.

He said: 'Most elite athletes choose to retire after having an ICD implanted. We saw this with Stale Solbakken (the current Norway boss).

'As cardiologists we are not lawmakers, but our clear recommendation, also in light of European and American studies, is that competing in elite sports with an ICD is highly unusual.

'We know he (Eriksen) will collapse again at some point. But we simply cannot say with certainty whether the ICD device will be needed to restart his heart in three months, or in three, four, five, or ten years. However, it is going to happen again.'

Television footage from the terrifying incident showed how Eriksen clutched his chest and fell to the ground away from the ball midway through the second half in the friendly.

Medical staff rushed to his aid as he was shielded from view, although after receiving treatment Eriksen was able to walk himself to the ambulance that took him to Odense University Hospital.

In a statement released the following day, Eriksen said: 'As you can probably imagine, receiving a shock from my ICD has had a major impact on both me and my family, but I want to reassure everyone that this was a different situation from what happened in 2021. I am feeling good, and my recovery has already started.

'In addition to being grateful for the support and assistance of all the players and the medical team on the field, I am also incredibly grateful to the doctors who have cared for me and my heart over the years.

'Thanks to their expertise, my ICD did exactly what it was designed to do: protect me when I needed it.

'For now, my focus is on recovering, spending time with my family, going on vacation, and playing football with my children.'

Wolfsburg begin their league campaign on August 8 with a home match against Kaiserslautern.