Former Carlisle United striker Charlie Wyke made a welcome return to action last night - eight months after a major heart scare.
The former Blues player was in the Wigan Athletic team that faced Bamber Bridge in a pre-season friendly.
Wyke's name on the teamsheet was a hugely encouraging sight after the forward's recovery from a cardiac arrest he suffered in training last November.
Wigan boss Leam Richardson said he was delighted to see the 29-year-old back on the pitch.
READ MORE: Former Carlisle United goalkeeper signs for new club
“Charlie has been in from day one and ticked every single session off – which I thought he would – and not just as part of the pack but being at the forefront of the running like he likes to be,” he told Wigan's website after the game.
“If anybody was ever going to put that shirt on again and get going again it was going to be Charlie.”
📋 Here is how we will line up for our first pre-season friendly against Bamber Bridge this evening.
— Wigan Athletic (@LaticsOfficial) July 5, 2022
🙌🏻 Brilliant to see Charlie Wyke in the starting XI for Leam Richardson's side! #wafc 🔵⚪️ #BELIEVE
Wyke played the first half in Wigan's 5-1 win at the Sir Tom Finney Stadium.
The forward has made good progress in his recovery from the incident which could have cost him his life were it not for the quick thinking of Richardson and club doctor Jonathan Tobin.
He collapsed during a training session last November and had to be rushed to hospital.
The man who played for the Blues from 2015-17 later said he was inspired by Christian Eriksen's return to action after his collapse at Euro 2020.
And Richardson recently told Wigan Today he was hopeful Wyke would be ready to start the new Championship season but that he would not be putting any pressure on the player.
Wyke was a goalscoring star for Carlisle as he found the net 39 times in 89 appearances after joining from Middlesbrough in 2015.
He moved to Bradford City for £250,000 in 2017 and has also since played for Sunderland.
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