21 Mar 2012

Coyle confirms conversation with Muamba

12:43 pm on 21 March 2012

The Bolton football boss Owen Coyle says he's had a conversation with Fabrice Muamba, as the midfielder continues to recover from a cardiac arrest he suffered in Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final at Tottenham.

Coyle is quick to point out that there's a long way to go, but he says Muamba's condition has improved from critical to serious.

Muamba has been able to recognise family members and respond to questions appropriately.

Although the 23-year-old is continuing to show signs of improvement, he remains in intensive care.

And the Premier League will review its medical procedures in the wake of the Muamba incident.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has questioned medicals in England but Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore says that all issues will be looked at.

Speaking at a sports industry event in London, Scudamore maintains the Premier League has learned from Chelsea keeper Cech's injury in a Premier League match against Reading five and a half years ago in which he sustained a fractured skull.

Chelsea were critical of the time it took for Cech to receive proper treatment, prompting a review of procedures in case of a serious injury to a player.

All Premier League matches now have an ambulance on site specifically for players, as well as specialist doctors and a team of paramedics.

Mancini says improvements in the Premier League could still be made in the way players are screened for potential heart problems by their clubs.

He says players need to be screened maybe two times a year, as in Italy.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp, however, says Muamba could not have received better treatment than he did at White Hart Lane where he was given CPR for several minutes on the pitch before being taken to hospital.

Redknapp says Muamba couldn't have had better support and if it was going to happen it could not have happened in a better place.