Crystal Palace manager Patrick Viera has said seeing Christian Eriksen return to playing a the top level with Brentford is something “we can all enjoy.”
The Denmark international had a cardiac arrest on the pitch at EURO 2020 last year against Finland and received life-saving CPR on the pitch.
He has since made a full recovery and has been fitted with an ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator), which monitors the heart and can operate as a pacemaker to keep the heart beating if needed.
Eriksen was playing for Serie A side Inter Milan at the time of his collapse though Italian football laws prohibit the use of an ICD, meaning he was released from his contract at the club.
He has now linked up with compatriot Thomas Frank at Brentford where he is currently rebuilding his fitness to make a competitive return to the pitch soon.
"This is a happy story," said Vieira, who takes his Crystal Palace side to the Brentford Community Stadium on Saturday. "To see him back on the field training and playing games I think is something we can enjoy.
"He loves the game and for him to be back on the field and to do what he loves is something we can all be happy about.
"The support and the first aid that he had on the field, it was really important.
"Seeing him back in football at a higher level is really positive and to show that with the support. Seeing him back is really good news for him and for football as well."
At the peak of his powers, Eriksen was one of the most coveted midfielders in Europe while working under Mauricio Pochettino at Spurs, reaching the Champions League final in 2019 before heading to Italy.
It took him a short while to adjust to life in Serie A but he motored on in his second season to help Inter win the league title.
And despite not having played a match for over six months, Eriksen says he’s relishing the opportunity to get back to out on the pitch and prove he’s still a top-level player.
"I won't change my style of play," he told BBC Sport. "I have had the time to be disciplined for the last six months to do extras, so even now maybe I am in a better condition than before, just the football missing.
"I feel like me, so don't see a reason why I can't get back to the same level."
