'I didn't think I'd play football again' - Emotional ex-Sunderland striker opens up after landmark Wigan Athletic goal

Wyke scored in Wigan Athletic’s 3-1 home defeat to Cardiff City and while it wasn’t the result he’d have hoped for, it proved an emotional day.

The former Sunderland striker – who returns to the Stadium of Light on Saturday in the Championship – suffered a cardiac arrest in a training session last November.

The 29-year-old forward feared he would never play again. His life was saved by Leam Richardson and Dr Jonathan Tobin.

He told the Wigan Post: “It's obviously an unbelievable feeling to get my first goal.

"I can't really describe it, or put it into words.

"It's been a frustrating 12 months, as everybody knows.

“My first objective was just to get back onto the field.

"But now I'm back, I want to score as many goals as I can, and it's nice to be off the mark.

"I didn't think I was ever going to be able to play football again.

"To be able to get through 90 minutes again, I wasn't really expecting it, and I want to play as much as I can.

"When the referee said there were seven minutes to go, I think we all thought there was a chance of getting an equaliser.

"It wasn't to be, but that's football, it's a tough league and we'll keep fighting on."

Sunderland host Wigan Athletic on Saturday at the Stadium of Light.