Former Carlisle United star Charlie Wyke has spoken of the emotional moment he returned to first-team football ten months after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Striker Wyke came off the bench to set up Wigan Athletic's winner in their 1-0 victory over Birmingham City.
And the ex-Blues frontman said he was delighted to be back in action after recovering from last November's major health scare when he collapsed in training.
"It's been a really long time out, ten months - it's been a crazy ten months as everyone knows but thankfully I'm back playing now," said Wyke in a club interview.
"It was really emotional, to have my family in the crowd watching on...it's been a tough ten months, I don't think anyone really understands what I've been through."
— Wigan Athletic (@LaticsOfficial) August 20, 2022
Wyke thanked Wigan's fans for "sticking by me" and chanting his name during the months he was out of action.
And after admitting it was "unbelievable" to return with an assist, Wyke - a Carlisle player from 2015-17 -added: "I don't just want to come back and have people feel sorry for me - I want to get back to how I was before.
"The club, fans, manager, lads, everybody has been unbelievalbe with me. I can't thank them enough.
"I'm back now, and hopefully I can put it behind me and crack on."
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