Muamba may be back ‘in six months’

Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba could be back playing football in six months, a leading heart expert says.

Muamba was discharged from hospital on Monday, almost a month after he was rushed there having suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch at White Hart Lane during Wanderers’ FA Cup quarter-final against Spurs. It took 78 minutes for Muamba’s heart to start beating again, but his recovery since then has been remarkable.

And Dr Richard Cooke, a consultant cardiologist at London Bridge Hospital, believes it may not be too long before the 24-year-old is seen in full action again. “It would seem highly likely that he would have had a defibrillator put in,” Cooke said.

“There are footballers who do play with them and have had a similar history, so as long as he makes a full neurological recovery, from a heart perspective there is no reason why he couldn’t resume his career.

“It depends entirely on the degree of recovery he has made already, but I understand he has made a surprisingly good recovery and all being well, I would not be surprised if he was back playing football in six months.”