Tom Lockyer: Luton Town captain taken to hospital after collapsing ...

Football

Tom Lockyer collapsed during the early stages of the play-off final at Wembley

Luton Town have confirmed that captain Tom Lockyer has been taken to hospital after collapsing during the play-off final.

The skipper fell to the deck unchallenged during the early minutes of the game at Wembley Stadium. He eventually left the pitch on a stretcher.

In an update at half-time, Luton Town tweeted: "We are able to report that after collapsing on the pitch, Tom Lockyer has been taken to hospital for further tests. He is responsive and talking to his family, who are with him.

"We are all with you, Locks."

The captain’s dad posted an image of Lockyer in a hospital bed celebrating the shoot-out win. Luton later reshared the image with the caption: “We love you Lockie.”

Boss Rob Edwards cried with delight when he saw that image and hopes to soon celebrate with the much-loved skipper. “If we can we will (see him in hospital),” he said of Lockyer, who is expected to be kept in overnight. “But I don’t want to get in the way and if I’m not allowed then I won’t.

“If I’m allowed I would love to go and see him, but then I think we’re so tight as a group that I’m not sure if 40-odd people are allowed to go and see him in hospital. We will have to check on that, but I’m just so thankful that he’s OK because that’s all that matters.

“I wasn’t really able to enjoy any celebration at the end because all I cared about was Locks.”

He added: “I felt a bit numb. I just made sure I shook Mark’s hand and his staff. I don’t want to be that guy that just starts running off and celebrating before I’ve seen the other manager.

“I just felt very numb. I still do. It hasn’t sunk in quite yet. It might take a few days, but it’s great. It does feel good. It was mixed because of Locks (Lockyer), that’s why I couldn’t really go for it celebrating.”

More to follow.