Tom Lockyer admits pain at not being offered a new Luton contract as he targets return to football after horror collapse
TOM LOCKYER has revealed he was hurt when Luton did not offer him a new contract this month.
But he told SunSport he is hoping to make a miraculous return next season following two collapses due to a heart condition.
The centre-half, 30, has not played since suffering a cardiac arrest in Luton’s Premier League game at Bournemouth in December 2023, where he was technically dead for 2min 40sec before medics resuscitated him.
That came seven months after he was taken to hospital when he collapsed during the Hatters’ Championship play-off final win against Coventry at Wembley.
He has since had a defibrillator fitted like Manchester United star Christian Eriksen and former Red Devil Daley Blind.
But after returning to training this season, he suffered further setbacks due to ankle injuries that needed surgery.
Yet the Wales international is confident he WILL play next term.
Lockyer said: “I’d love to have stayed at Luton and felt hurt when I got news I wasn’t getting a new contract after what I’d done for the club.
“But it’s a business and I haven’t played for 18 months.
“I love Luton. I’ve enjoyed so many great memories there.
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“The last year has been frustrating. I have to get through two reserve games to get my heart signed off as fit to play but then two days before the first one I rolled my ankle and needed surgery.
“Then I was pushing to get back before the end of January and I pushed too hard, too soon and needed to redo the operation.
“I will get fit with my ankle, get my two ‘heart games’ ticked off and see where the land lies.
““If Luton like the shape I come back in then brilliant, maybe we could continue something.“
Since Lockyer last played for the club they have suffered back-to-back relegations to League One.
And he believes had he been fit, then both may have been avoided.
Lockyer was club captain and played 102 league games for the Hatters before his cardiac arrest.
If I was fit, especially this season, there’s no way on earth we’d have been relegated.
Tom Lockyer
He said: “If I was fit, especially this season, there’s no way on earth we’d have been relegated.
“That’s not me being big-headed. I’ve been in that changing room, I know what I can bring, so that’s the sad reality.“
Lockyer’s one huge regret from his Luton career is not celebrating his goal against Sunderland at Kenilworth Road that sealed their place in the 2023 play-off final.
He added: “I was straight down the tunnel saying, ‘The job isn’t done’, whereas a few other lads just celebrated that moment.
“Then I go to Wembley, end up missing all the celebrations there, the trip after, the bus tour, everything that goes with it, so that out of everything cuts me deep.
“I watched the rest of the play-off final on my phone in the ambulance then on the hospital TV, extra-time and penalties.
If I don’t get back to professional level, I’ll find a local team somewhere, that’s for sure. If anyone needs a centre-back, hit me up!
Tom Lockyer
“If I do get back playing I’ll be celebrating the little wins.“
This weekend’s play-off finals will kick off one minute later than normal, starting today at 3.01pm with Sheffield United and Sunderland’s Championship showdown.
The times are designed to raise awareness of the Every Minute Matters campaign – a collaboration between Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation – which aims to inspire supporters to learn CPR.
Lockyer said: “If someone can see me playing safely, then surely that will give hope to other people.
“If I don’t get back to professional level, I’ll find a local team somewhere, that’s for sure. If anyone needs a centre-back, hit me up!“
TOM LOCKYER is part of Sky Bet’s Every Minute Matters campaign that is encouraging everyone to learn CPR online in just 15 minutes by visiting bhf.org