Tom Lockyer will resume his taking part in profession virtually two years on from struggling a cardiac arrest throughout a sport after signing a one-year contract with Bristol Rovers.

The 30-year-old Wales defender has been coaching with the League Two membership having returned to health after struggling a cardiac arrest whereas taking part in for Luton in a Premier League match at Bournemouth in December 2023.

Lockyer returns to the membership the place he started his skilled profession six years after leaving to affix Charlton Athletic.

He moved to Luton in 2020 and helped the membership win promotion to the Premier League by way of the play-offs in 2023, though the victory at Wembley was marred by a collapse Lockyer suffered through the sport.

He returned to motion later that 12 months earlier than struggling the cardiac arrest towards Bournemouth.

“It feels actually, actually good to as soon as once more be a Bristol Rovers participant,” Lockyer instructed the membership web site.

“Clearly I have been coaching right here for some time and I’ve tried to not assume an excessive amount of about it or get too excited in regards to the ifs, buts and maybes.

“However as quickly as I knew that Darrell [Clarke, Bristol Rovers head coach] wished to get one thing finished, it was straightforward for me to then decide about coming again house.

“It’s so arduous to elucidate however it’s every thing I’ve labored so arduous for during the last two years.

“Hopefully I can have many, many extra good recollections in a soccer shirt. I’ll have fun the little wins again on a soccer pitch and I simply wish to get pleasure from it. I would not be doing this in any other case.

“I am doing this as a result of I really like taking part in soccer and I’ve acquired that large want to play soccer once more, and what higher place to try this than again house at Bristol Rovers.”

Clarke added: “I am delighted to have Tom again with us. He is a lad I’ve acquired plenty of admiration for, which has solely elevated after every thing he and his household have gone by means of within the final couple of years.

“I at all times believed Locks had the flexibility to make it on the highest degree and he proved that, taking part in within the Premier League with Luton City, and his software and work-rate epitomises every thing I do know the followers love about our gamers.

“It has been nice having him across the coaching floor, and he is already settled into the group effectively. It will likely be nice to see him again on the market within the blue-and-white quarters.”