Bolton to play on
Trotters to return to action against Blackburn
LONDON: Bolton will return to action in the Premier League on Saturday, a week after Fabrice Muamba’s mid-game cardiac arrest, with the midfielder recovering in hospital.
As Muamba was fighting for his life after collapsing at Tottenham on Saturday, Bolton called off Tuesday’s match at Aston Villa.
But the player’s recovery led to the squad deciding yesterday to go ahead with Saturday’s league match against Blackburn and return to Tottenham and play the abandoned FA Cup quarter-final again.
“We spoke together with the players as a group this morning and I talked with Fabrice’s family last night,” Bolton manager Owen Coyle said.
“Fabrice’s father Marcel and his fiancee Shauna were keen that we fulfil our fixtures. Once the players knew this, there was no doubt in our minds that we would play the matches.”
No date has been set for the emotional return to White Hart Lane, where Muamba suddenly fell to the ground just before halftime on Saturday.
Bolton team doctor Jonathan Tobin said yesterday that it took 15 shocks to Muamba’s heart to get it starting again later on Saturday evening.
It took until Monday for Muamba to start breathing independently again and communicating in intensive care.
“I’m glad to say that the early signs of recovery have continued,” Bolton team doctor Jonathan Tobin said yesterday.
“I went to see Fabrice last night. I went in and he said ‘Hi, doc.’ I asked him how he was and he said ‘Fine.”’
Dr Tobin said Muamba has been discussing the incident that prompted an outpouring of concern throughout world football.
“I explained to him what had happened,” he said. “That’s the sort of level of communication I have had with Fabrice.” — AP