Lokeren pay tribute to Gregory Mertens

Tributes were paid to the late Gregory Mertens as his former Lokeren teammates returned to action on Friday.

The Belgian defender, 24, collapsed during Lokeren's reserve fixture against Genk on Monday and died of heart failure after time on a life support machine in hospital.

Prior to their Pro League playoff game against Westerlo this evening, tearful Lokeren players lined up in T-shirts sporting Mertens's name.

Supporters also paid their respects by holding up signs bearing his squad number of four, and a banner which read: "you'll never walk alone Greg".

Former Belgium Under-21 international Mertens joined Lokeren from Cercle Brugge at the start of the 2014-15 season.