Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen will make his debut for Brentford in Saturday’s Premier League home game against Newcastle United, marking his return after suffering a cardiac arrest in June last year, manager Thomas Frank said.

Eriksen joined Brentford as a free agent in January, nearly eight months after he collapsed on the pitch and received life-saving treatment during Denmark’s Euro 2020 clash with Finland.

“Christian Eriksen will be in the squad and he will get on the pitch,” Frank told reporters on Friday. “He will get his debut tomorrow (Saturday). It will be a big day for all of us but especially Christian and his family when he walks onto the pitch.

“For everyone involved in football who saw what happened, that is another reminder that we are privileged to do what we do and be alive. We need to appreciate every day, every moment, which is very difficult.”

Eriksen’s former club Inter Milan ended his contract in December as he is not allowed to play in Serie A because of his heart starter device, an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.

The 30-year-old will be making his first Premier League appearance since leaving Tottenham in January 2020. “Everything has been checked. He and his family are aligned that he should play football, so that’s very important,” Frank added.

EPL Fixtures

Saturday
• Leeds vs Tottenham
• Brentford vs Newcastle
• Brighton vs Aston Villa
• Palace vs Burnley
• Man United vs Watford
• Everton vs Man City
Sunday
• West Ham vs Wolves