Christian Eriksen will be fitted with a defibrillator implant after suffering a cardiac arrest in Denmark’s Euro 2020 opener against Finland, the national team doctor has confirmed.

The 29-year-old Inter Milan midfielder had to be resuscitated on the pitch at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen after slumping to the ground during the first half of his side’s 1-0 Euro 2020 Group B defeat to Finland on Saturday evening.

The device is similar to the one Bolton Wanderers star Fabrice Muamba had fitted in 2012 after his own on-field collapse.

At the time, it was hoped Muamba would be able to resume his footballing career - but he ultimately never played a competitive game again.

READ MORE > Remembered: The night Bolton's Fabrice Muamba collapsed at Tottenham

Providing an update on his status on Thursday, Denmark team doctor Morten Boesen said: “After Christian has been through different heart examinations it has been decided that he should have an ICD (heart starter).

“This device is necessary after cardiac attack due to rhythm disturbances.

“Christian has accepted the solution and the plan has moreover been confirmed by specialists nationally and internationally who all recommend the same treatment.

“We encourage everybody to give Christian and his family peace and privacy (in) the following time.”

The football world was in shock when Cameras showed medics desperately trying to stabilise the former Tottenham player, as his teammates formed a protective circle around where he lay on the pitch.

His team-mates chose to complete the Finland game later on Saturday evening having been offered the option to return the following day.

Some of them were still clearly affected by what they had witnessed and Jesper Moller, chairman of the Danish Football Association the DBU, has since called for a change to UEFA’s regulations as a result.

He said in a statement on the DBU’s official website: “That is a situation players and coaches should not be put in. It is not and should not be their decision.

“It was a wrong decision and completely untenable that the players had to be on the field so soon after the horrible experience.

“We now want an evaluation of the entire decision-making process so that we can get all the relevant facts and information on the table.

“We must look at a change in the rules to ensure that we are never in the same situation again. We are ready to present a resolution to UEFA.”

Eriksen’s Denmark team-mates are preparing for their second group fixture against group leaders Belgium on Thursday night at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.

And Eriksen will be cheering them on from hospital.

Earlier this week he released a statement thanking fans for their support.

“Hello everyone,” it read.

“Big thanks for your sweet and amazing greetings and messages from all around the world. It means a lot to me and my family.

“I’m fine – under the circumstances.

“I still have to go through some examinations at the hospital , but I feel okay.

“Now, I will cheer on the boys on the Denmark team in the next matches.

“Play for all of Denmark. Best. Chistian.”