Fabrice Muamba hoping to play again

Fabrice Muamba has not given up hope of returning to the football field after his near-death experience at White Hart Lane.

The Bolton Wanderers midfielder had to be rushed to hospital after collapsing during the Trotters' FA Cup quarter-final tie against Tottenham Hotspur in March.

It was later revealed that the 24-year-old's heart had stopped beating for around 78 minutes after suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch.

Muamba refused to rule out a return to the sport, but said that he is just concentrating on enjoying life at the moment.

"I continue to feel fine. I am improving slowly but surely," The Sun quotes Muamba as saying. "I have to co-ordinate with my doctor and see what he says but I'll never say never.

"At the moment I am not doing exercise, I am just enjoying life and travelling. It is a great privilege to be able to live with the assistance of a respiratory machine or something like that. It is fantastic.

"I am making small steps every day. I am still being medicated and we will see what happens."

The England Under-21s international arrived at the Reebok Stadium from Birmingham City in 2008.