Nigel Reo-Coker has described Fabrice Muamba's recovery from his cardiac arrest as 'miraculous'.
Bolton star delighted with how team-mate is recovering
Nigel Reo-Coker has described Fabrice Muamba's recovery from his cardiac arrest as 'miraculous'.
Reo-Coker was one of the nearest players to Muamba at Tottenham when the midfielder collapsed last week.
He was also part of the Bolton deputation that went to see the 23-year-old at the London Chest Hospital on Tuesday.
And Reo-Coker cannot believe how well Muamba is doing.
"We were in for about a minute, maximum," said Reo-Coker of the visit with team-mates Darren Pratley and Mark Davies.
"We'd already been told he'd got his memory and could recognise people.
"He said, 'All right Nige'. He was obviously not speaking so well because he was still a bit drugged up.
"He asked what happened and I couldn't answer him. I was too choked up.
"To see him lying there with all the tubes was tough.
"He's still in a very serious condition but just to see him after what I saw on the pitch and the news we got in the dressing-room - for your heart to stop beating for that long - just to be alive and recognise anyone, it's a miracle."
Buoyed
Reo-Coker was so buoyed by the experience he has no doubts about having the mental strength to cope with today's return to action against Blackburn at the Reebok Stadium.
Then it will be on to Tuesday's return trip to Tottenham for their rearranged FA Cup quarter-final, and another chance to visit the London Chest Hospital where Muamba remains.
"I'll probably see him again when we go down to London," said Reo-Coker.
"Regardless of what people think about footballers, he is a top bloke.
"In my mind I am thinking 'I have to be strong because it's not about me'.
"Right now, it's about Fabrice and his family. Whatever I am going through, it's nothing compared to what the family are going through."
