Andoni Iraola on Tom Lockyer Vitality Stadium return

Cherries’ Premier League fixture against Luton Town was abandoned in December, after Hatters captain Lockyer collapsed off the ball.

He received lengthy medical treatment having suffered a cardiac arrest, but is thankfully now on the mend, after undergoing surgery to install a device designed to restart his heart if there is a similar occurrence in future.

Lockyer recently became a father, but it is hoped he will make the trip to the south coast tomorrow and make his way out on the pitch as a show of thanks ahead of kick-off.

Iraola: No concerns over Solanke's availability for Luton clash

Looking ahead to tomorrow's rearranged fixture against Luton (7.30pm), Cherries head coach Iraola said: “In the end, the most important thing is that he feels much better.

“He has recovered well. It would be amazing if he comes and we can see him. I’m happy to know he is doing well.

“Our supporters, from the first second after what happened, they were supporting him.

“They were trying to help in the way each one could help.

“Everyone is happy that he is feeling much better. I think it is the most important thing, after what happened, from the next second everyone had it very clear that the only thing that mattered was for him to recover.”

Iraola went on to express the importance of knowing how to perform CPR.

“I think it is something everyone should learn,” he said.

“We normally do it in football clubs. I think it is something even in schools and universities, I don’t know if it is run everywhere, but it should be done, because it can save a life.

“Just spending one or two hours to have the chance to save a life, I think it is definitely worth it.”

Given the emotion which will come surrounding the fixture, Iraola was asked if he feels it could take a while for the atmosphere to settle in the fixture.

He said: “You should probably ask the players. But having been a player, when the referee whistles to start the game, you focus because you normally have difficult things to do.

“You think in the football stuff, the opponent you have, what you can do whenever you receive the next ball. I think the players will be focused on the football side, because they are used to it.”

Asked how he personally has processed what happened on the day of the abandoned fixture, Iraola added: “I think everyone answered really well to the incident, especially obviously the medical staff.

“They were amazing and everyone in the stadium, the supporters and players, they realised quite early it was a big thing.

“The only important thing was how he could recover. Even the ref, everyone, did what we had to do.”