Pearce in hospital after medical emergency on plane

Stuart Pearce is successful "great spirits" aft the erstwhile England defender suffered a aesculapian exigency connected a flight, says Talksport commentator Sam Matterface.

The Sun reported, external Pearce was travelling connected a Virgin Atlantic formation from Las Vegas to London past Sunday erstwhile helium fell ill.

The paper says helium is recovering successful infirmary successful St John's, Canada, wherever the level was diverted to aft helium had received attraction connected committee from unit and medically-trained passengers.

Talksport, for whom the 62-year-old works regularly arsenic a pundit and co-commentator, provided an update connected his condition, external during sum of Nottingham Forest's Premier League location crippled against Manchester City connected Saturday.

Pearce played for and managed some clubs progressive successful the 12:30 GMT kick-off.

There was applause from supporters aft 3 minutes - the fig helium wore during his vocation - astatine the City Ground, on with a connection displayed connected screens wrong the stadium which read: "Get good soon Stuart."

Forest posted "Psycho" connected X, referencing his nickname, alongside a emotion heart.

"I spoke to him yesterday [Friday] and helium was successful large spirits," said Matterface.

"He isn't 100% - that is decidedly the case. But he's successful the close spot successful the hospital. They're dealing with it.

"He's a small spot disappointed astir not being present today. He really said to me: 'I've got truthful overmuch I've had to cancel - large games, and Mumford and Sons are playing adjacent Wednesday nighttime and I can't go.'"

Presenter Reshmin Choudhury added: "We nonstop our champion wishes to him, his spouse and each the household from everyone present astatine Talksport. We can't hold to person him backmost erstwhile he's ready."

Pearce had been successful the United States watching the Super League crippled betwixt Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves, which took spot successful Las Vegas connected 1 March.

In a statement, a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: "Due to an unwell lawsuit onboard, the VS156 connected 2 March flying from Las Vegas to London Heathrow diverted to St John's International Airport, Canada and was met by the aesculapian services.

"The information and wellbeing of our customers and unit is ever our fig 1 precedence and we apologise for the hold to our customers' journey."

Pearce spent overmuch of his playing vocation with Forest, portion helium besides had spells with Coventry, West Ham and Newcastle United. He spent 1 play astatine Manchester City earlier retiring successful 2002.

He played 78 times for England and was caretaker manager of the nationalist broadside for 1 crippled successful 2012.

As a player, Pearce missed a punishment successful England's 1990 World Cup semi-final shootout decision by West Germany.

His palmy spot-kick successful England's Euro 96 quarter-final shootout triumph against Spain astatine Wembley provoked an affectional and memorable celebration.

He besides recovered the nett with his spot-kick successful the semi-final nonaccomplishment connected penalties to Germany.

Pearce aboriginal managed City, England Under-21s and Forest, and helium was besides successful complaint of the Team GB men's broadside astatine London 2012.

His astir caller relation was arsenic first-team manager astatine West Ham, a presumption helium near successful May 2022.

BBC Sport has contacted Pearce's bureau for comment.