Bolton face emotional return to Tottenham

Fabrice has had a decent weekend,” Coyle said. “He was able to watch Match of the Day on Sunday morning, but he fell asleep when we were winning 2-0.” As Bolton prepare to return to the scene of Muamba’s collapse, when they restage the abandoned FA Cup sixth-round tie against Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Tuesday evening, the fixture will be as much a celebration of the midfielder’s remarkable recovery as an emotional replay of the shocking events which led to the player’s heart stopping for 78 minutes. While the euphoria generated by Muamba’s fight to live continues, Coyle’s disclosure that he was unable to watch the conclusion of Bolton’s 2-1 victory against Blackburn on Saturday emphasised the battle for health that the player continues to fight. “It’s important we know that he’s stable, but obviously very, very serious in the intensive care unit.” Coyle said. “He is touched and moved by the show of support, unity, goodwill and feeling, and everyone willing him on to a recovery. “In the last couple of days, he has become aware of that support and feeling, but we have to stress that it won’t be a click of the fingers and everything rolls into place. It will be a slow process and that’s why he remains in intensive care. Other bits need to come back into place for him to be back to his best and that’s what we’re all praying for.” Had Muamba’s recovery not been so uplifting, Tuesday night’s fixture against Tottenham might not have gone ahead, such was the numbing sensation felt by his Bolton team-mates in the immediate aftermath of his collapse. While the positivity generated by Muamba’s progress appeared to drive Coyle’s players on to victory against Blackburn, the manager concedes that playing at White Hart Lane will pose unique challenges. Coyle has no plans at this stage to walk his players on to the pitch in the build-up to the game in order for them to collect their thoughts and reflect on what happened, but he admits the fixture will be an emotional test. He said: “The reason the game goes ahead is because Fabrice is improving, so there’s no getting away from the fact that it will be very emotional. But I don’t think we can pre-plan as to whether we should go early or this and that. When we go, we’ll just have to take it as it comes. When the game comes about, of course it will be difficult for both teams. “But we need to play the game for Fabrice as well to show we’re doing what the family asked. Both sets of players will get the opportunity to thank both sets of supporters, who were remarkable.” He added that while Bolton fans would be expected to wish Muamba well, when he was being treated on the pitch, the Tottenham fans did too. “It was almost a sixth sense. They were willing him to get up and get better.” For Muamba’s team-mates, there is also a realisation that they must overcome mental obstacles to perform on Tuesday night. “Nobody can pretend that coping with what happened has been easy,” admitted defender Tim Ream. “Tuesday night will be difficult, but we are all professionals, we have a job to do and we will be doing it for Fabrice. “We have drawn strength from Fabrice and what he is going through and how he is pulling through it. That can only help us.” Muamba is set to be visited by a small group of team-mates this morning with Coyle admitting it remains too early for a larger proportion of his squad to express their good wishes in person. “Every one of the players and staff would love to be around that bed, but that just can’t happen and you can understand that,” Coyle said. “What will happen will be a very small representation of the club, be it a couple of players, who go and represent the rest of the lads. “We have to remember that, as much as we all want to be there physically, what’s important is that Fabrice gets better.” Ultimately, the purpose of Bolton’s trip to London is to fulfil their FA Cup obligations, but there remains a sense that on-field events are secondary to developments with Muamba. Coyle said: “Tuesday night is just about going and playing the game. Do we want to win the game? Yes, as do Tottenham. That’s the way we’ll treat it. “On a football front, it’s a tough game at the best of times, never mind coming on the back of all the emotion involved in it as well. But we’re committed to playing the game and we’ll do that to the best of our abilities.”