NEWS Fabrice Muamba is recovering

Fabrice Muamba is "showing small signs of improvement" according to a joint statement from Barts hospital and Bolton Wanderers.

The midfielder remains in intensive care after suffering a cardiac arrest during Bolton's FA Cup sixth-round tie at Tottenham on Saturday night, but the London chest hospital said that, while he is still in a critical condition, there are small reasons to be optimistic.

A Bolton statement read: "His heart is now beating without the help of medication and he is also moving his arms and his legs.

"However, his long-term prognosis will remain unclear for some time. He is still critically ill and will continue to be closely monitored and treated by staff in the London chest hospital's intensive care unit."

Update:

Fabrice Muamba remained critically ill on Monday morning as he continued to fight for his life after suffering a cardiac arrest during Bolton's FA Cup sixth-round tie at Tottenham on Saturday night.

Medical staff took two hours to get Muamba breathing again and he is now being closely monitored in the heart attack centre at the London chest hospital.

A joint statement from Bolton, Barts and the NHS Trust at 9.30am on Monday morning read: "Fabrice Muamba's heart condition is stable, but he remains critically ill in intensive care at the London chest hospital. The family is grateful to the media for continuing to respect their privacy at this time."

Bolton's manager, Owen Coyle, and the club's chairman, Phil Gartside, visited the hospital this morning. Coyle, who accompanied Muamba to hospital, offered his personal thanks for the messages of support that continue to be received, both at the hospital and the Reebok Stadium.

"From our end, and on behalf of the family, we want to say a big thanks to everyone," said Coyle. "We have been inundated by good messages, everyone praying for Fabrice which is very important. It has been a real source of strength for the family. We know how difficult a time it is for everyone. I can't really quantify it [the support]. It has been incredible, not just from the football world, from everyone.

"It is great to be talented at football but it's more important to be a genuinely nice man and everyone recognises Fabrice is that. That has pulled everyone together. We certainly hope he comes through this. If he pulls through it would be marvellous, it really would."

Gartside added his own tribute: "I know Fabrice's family have been overwhelmed by the huge outpouring of kindness, from people visiting the hospital to leave cards to those sending messages and emails.

"The staff at the London chest hospital have been nothing short of exceptional and I would like to thank them all at this ongoing critical time. I ask for everybody to keep Fabrice in their prayers and thoughts."

The Premier League agreed to Bolton's request for Tuesday's planned match with Aston Villa at Villa Park to be postponed. No new date has been confirmed and it is still not clear when Saturday night's game will be played.

Bolton's next game is due to be in the Premier League, against local rivals and fellow relegation candidates Blackburn, at home on Saturday, although no decision will be made until much later in the week about whether that match can proceed. Blackburn have said they are happy to postpone the game, however the Bolton captain, Kevin Davies, believes it is too soon to discuss fixtures following a team meeting on Monday morning at the club's Euxton training complex.

"Any of those questions are irrelevant at the minute," said Davies. "I have been speaking to the manager and I have travelled back with the chairman. He went back down to support Fabrice and his family.

"It was optional to come into training today and decisions will have to be made but my immediate thoughts are with Fabrice and his family. The club will take a stance on it in the next couple of days. But at the minute we want to just try and help Fabrice."

Davies went to hospital with Muamba on Saturday night and marvelled at the work of the medical staff, who he is convinced saved Muamba's life.

"The amount of people who were turning up, running around trying to get Fabrice sorted out was amazing," he said. "There is no doubt in my mind if it wasn't down to all those people, we wouldn't even be in this situation. We are all thankful to them that they have given Fabrice a bit of hope."

Davies has also been touched by the overwhelming support for Muamba from across the footballing world. Fans of both sides applauded the 23-year-old off the pitch on Saturday and supporters at other matches since have offered their own backing with a minute's applause. Numerous scarves and other tributes from competing clubs have been left at the Reebok Stadium.

"It is the first time in my nearly 19 years in the game that I have seen a stadium unite," he said. "It was touching but I was laying in bed thinking how sad it was as well. As professionals, we put a lot of hours in. We work hard and make a lot of sacrifices. But it seems that the only way you are going to get a ripple of applause away from your own ground is to get carried off on a stretcher.

"That is a sad state of affairs. Fans are quick to get off their seats if there is a mis-timed tackle. Maybe people have to ask why Fabrice Muamba runs 80 yards to put a last-ditch tackle in. It is not because he has anything against your team. It is because he is working hard for his own. If there is anything positive to come out of this, when you see supporters from all over, it would be nice if the fans could unite."

After scoring in Chelsea's FA Cup win over Leicester at Stamford Bridge yesterday, Muamba's former Bolton team-mate Gary Cahill revealed a T-shirt with the message "Pray 4 Muamba" printed on it.

Supporters at Wolves' home game with Manchester United combined in a minute's applause before kick-off.

The referee Howard Webb, whose prompt actions on Saturday, in addition to those of medical staff have received such praise, withdrew from fourth official duties at Wolves on the advice of a psychologist who works with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited.

Muamba began his career at Arsenal, joining them as a schoolboy 10 years ago. Their manager, Arsène Wenger, said: "This is, of course, a massive shock to us all and we just hope that Fabrice will pull through safely.

"You pray that the damage will be repaired and that Fabrice will come out healthy and we will see his smile again. That is all you wish for.

"As a man, Fabrice has a positive attitude towards life, he is full of determination and has a great desire. Everyone at Arsenal has huge respect for Fabrice.

"Even after he left us, he often passed by to say hello and speak about how it was going for him. We feel very deeply attached to him. He is what you would call a committed player. His hunger and determination was so big. When he was younger, he had massive players in front of him at Arsenal, but I felt he had reached the level to play in the Premier League, so we let him go and he has proved his quality.

"A football player always remains attached to where he was educated. Fabrice had his friends from childhood here and they remain your friends forever. We are all thinking of Fabrice, his family and everyone close to him."