Stuart Pearce made an emotional return to the commentary box at Wembley today, just weeks after suffering a serious heart scare.
The England and Nottingham Forest legend was back behind the microphone for talkSPORT to cover Thomas Tuchel's first match as England manager against Albania in the Nations League.
Pearce's return comes after a frightening health episode that saw him hospitalised in Canada.
The beloved football icon had fallen ill during a flight from Las Vegas to Heathrow last month.
Stuart Pearce is set to return to commentary for England vs Albania
talkSPORT
His return to commentary duties was met with delight from colleagues and fans alike at Wembley Stadium.
Pearce had been in Las Vegas watching the rugby league clash between Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors, part of efforts to expand the sport in America.
It was on his return journey when he began experiencing chest pains.
The emergency forced the plane to divert to Canada so he could receive urgent medical attention.
"The crew on Virgin were brilliant, they took care of me fantastically and then said, 'Look, we're not going to take the chance travelling across the Atlantic, we're going to drop you off'," Pearce told talkSPORT.
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His condition was serious enough that medical professionals determined he couldn't continue the transatlantic journey.
Pearce spent five days in a Newfoundland hospital and a total of ten days in Canada before being able to return home.
Doctors administered medication to lower his heart rate after discovering it wasn't pumping enough blood around his system, causing swelling.
The medical team took decisive action to address his condition.
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Stuart Pearce suffered a serious health scare on a flight
PA
"At the end of the week, on Friday, they said, 'Look, we're going to stick a tube down your throat, if there's no swelling around your heart, we'll stop your heart and reboot you again'," Pearce explained.
"So that's exactly what they did. My heart went back to a normal rate and they released me the following day.
"I just got a virus. It sort of attached itself to my heart that just needed clearing, rebooting, I think."
The 63-year-old's recovery has been remarkable given the severity of the incident.
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Stuart Pearce is well-loved by many fans across the country
PAHis return to the commentary box for Tuchel's England managerial debut demonstrates the resilience that characterised his playing career.
The former England defender, affectionately known as 'Psycho' during his playing days, has shown the same fighting spirit off the pitch.
His presence at Wembley today marks a triumphant comeback for one of the nation's most respected football figures.
