PRAY AGAIN 4 MUAMBA

'Pray 4 Muamba': Premier League stars rally round fellow player after he suffers heart attack on pitch as doctors say the next 24 hours are 'critical'

• Midfielder Fabrice Muamba collapsed during the first half of FA Cup tie between Tottenham Hotspur and Bolton
• Bolton club manager Owen Coyle said the support for player and his family has been 'incredible' and that he hoped for a happy outcome
• Players rushed to his aid and looked on in horror as medics worked to resuscitate him in front of a packed crowd of 36,000 fans
• Referee calls the match off following the incident with players on both sides visibly upset
• 23-year-old has a son called Joshua and got engaged to his girlfriend on Valentine's Day

Footballers paid tribute to Bolton Wanderers player Fabrice Muamba as he remained in a critical condition following sustained cardiac arrest. 

Both Wolves and Manchester United players and their supporters took part in 30 seconds of applause for Muamba ahead of their afternoon Barclays Premier League match at Molineux.

Muamba's former team-mate Gary Cahill also paid tribute by dedicating his goal for Chelsea in the FA Cup against Leicester at Stamford Bridge to the footballer.

The 23-year-old father collapsed with several minutes remaining in the first half of the FA Cup Quarter Final between Tottenham Hotspur and Bolton last night.

It is believed the player was attended to on the pitch by a cardiologist who was at the match. 

Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and Jonathan Evans applause for Muamba

Chelsea's Gary Cahill, Muamba's former team mate, dedicated his goal against Leicester City to the stricken player

Cahill, right, celebrates after his goal which he later said was for Muamba

Cahill points to a shirt he was wearing under his Chelsea jersey to show his support for Muamba

Concerned: Tottenham Hotspur and England star Jermain Defoe arrives with his mother Sandra St Helen at the London Chest Hospital today to visit Fabrice Muamba

Witnesses said they saw the doctor running up the gangway to the pitch where he explained to stewards that he was a heart specialist.

MUAMBA'S CHANCE OF RECOVERY SIGNIFICANTLY AIDED BY MEDICS

The footballer's chances of recovery after sustaining a cardiac arrest were 'significantly' aided by the speed of the medical team at White Hart Lane, according to a Football Association accredited cardiologist.

Muamba was immediately tended to by medical staff who conducted prolonged resuscitation on the pitch and in an ambulance en route to the London Chest Hospital.

The medical team were this morning praised by Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy for their response and Dr Graham Stuart, medical director of Sports Cardiology UK, believes their quick work has given Muamba the greatest possible chance of making a recovery.

'They were obviously very troubling scenes but the thing that was most vital was how quickly he received treatment,' said Dr Stuart.

'At that stage the support is critical and the speed of treatment is vital. Any delay can damage various organs.

'The sooner they were able to get him breathing again then the better.

'I was not at the game and do not know the details, but from what I saw it was only a few minutes before he had help. The medical teams were there straight away which is very important.'

Paramedics could not get Muamba's heart beating on its own for almost two hours.

'At this stage they are likely to be doing as much as possible to support the organs of the patient,' Dr Stuart said.

'They can do various things such as cooling the body down. At this stage doctors would be looking to get oxygen back to the brain.'

The incident has rocked the football world with Muamba's former Birmingham manager Steve Bruce describing him as 'one of the fittest players I have managed'.

Dr Stuart said there were several factors that could have caused the cardiac arrest, adding that detecting the issue beforehand could have been problematic.

'Usually in these cases the reason for this happening is something to do with a heart muscle problem or there is a weakness in the heart muscle.

'It could also be a primary arrhythmia disorder; that is where there is an irregularity in the heart of the ionic channels.'

Players also rushed to Muamba's aid and looked on in horror as medics worked to resuscitate the former England Under-21 star in front of a packed crowd of 36,000 fans.

He received prolonged resuscitation at the ground and while on route to The London Chest Hospital where his heart eventually started working.

Under new NHS guidelines emergency heart cases are immediately routed directly to a number of specialist hospital across the capital where consultant cardiologists are on duty round the clock.

It was confirmed tonight that the footballer remains in a critical condition.

A new statement, jointly released by Bolton and Barts and The London NHS Trust, this evening confirmed there had been no change in Muamba's condition.

'Fabrice Muamba remains in a critical condition in intensive care in the Heart Attack Centre at the London Chest Hospital,' the statement said.

Bolton club manager Owen Coyle, speaking outside the London Chest Hospital this evening, said he hoped for a happy outcome for the player.

He added: 'I think from our end and on behalf of the family, we want to say a big thank you to everybody. 

'We have been inundated with messages and everybody is praying for Fabrice and that has been a real source of strength to the family.

'It is such a difficult time for everybody involved.

'We certainly hope that he comes through.

'The support has been incredible, not only from the football world but from everybody.

'It is great to be talented at football and everything, but more important is to be a generally nice man and everybody recognised Fabrice is that. 

'All the support for his family, his young son, his father, brothers and sisters - it's been incredible. 

'He continues to be in our prayers. 

'We don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but if he could pull through it would be marvellous.'

In a show of respect to the player the match between Bolton Wanderers and Aston Villa scheduled for Tuesday has been postponed.

Muamba's fiancee Shauna and his family attended the hospital but it is not known if his son Joshua has been to see him.

Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe also visited the hospital today. He was one of the most visibly upset players on the pitch yesterday following Muamba's collapse.

Defoe, who has known the Bolton star since they were children, arrived at The London Chest Hospital in Bethnal Green with his mother at 2.45pm.

He left 15 minutes later, but declined to say anything to reporters as he walked off the hospital premises. 

Earlier Defoe tweeted: 'Pray for Fab, God willing he will pull through. £PrayForMuamba'

After Muamba fell to the ground on the pitch last night, Coyle shouted 'he's just collapsed' before running across to join the paramedics.

Players gathered and a defibrillator was used on the star, who has also played for Arsenal and Birmingham.

Muamba, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly Zaire, was taken off on a stretcher as fans held their heads in their hands, with some in tears.

Referee Howard Webb called off the match after the incident. Reporters at the scene said the player had stopped breathing.

It is understood that Mr Coyle and Bolton striker Kevin Davies accompanied Muamba in the ambulance to the London Chest Hospital in Bethnal Green, east London.

Phil Brown, former assistant manager at Bolton Wanderers, who witnessed Muamba's collapse, described yesterday's scenes as 'alarming'.

He said spectators go to a match with 'high level of expectancy' and expect to see players 'at the peak of their profession'.

More and more fans gather to leave well wishes at the stadium in Bolton

A man lays a scarf alongside football shirts and flowers left outside the Reebok Stadium in Bolton, north-west England following the news that Fabrice Muamba collapsed during an FA Cup game

Fans urge the player to get well with cards and flowers. A jersey signed by the Hewitt family was also left outside the stadium

Coyle, right, said the player faced a crucial 24-hours and urged people to pray for his recovery

Couple: Fabrice Muamba, left, is the fiance of Shauna Magunda

Upsetting: Gareth Bale, of Tottenham Hotspur, consoles teammate Jermain Defoe after Fabrice Muamba is taken off on a stretcher, still unconscious after receiving CPR treatment on the pitch

Fabrice Muamba of Bolton Wanderers receives CPR treatment on the pitch after suddenly collapsing during the FA Cup Sixth Round match

Dreadful scenes: Bolton's manager Owen Coyle, right, looks on distraught with other players as Fabrice Muamba of Bolton Wanderers receives CPR treatment on the pitch

Mr Brown told BBC Breakfast: 'If you witness something like we witnessed last night it takes it to the other end of the spectrum. It's very hard to believe what you're seeing in front of your own eyes.'

'There are a lot of religious players and to see them all almost crouching down and dropping to their knees and praying, it was quite shocking, to tell you the truth.'

Discussing the checks that players are subjected to, he said: 'The screening processes that we use at the top level should be and can be sufficient to try and eradicate this, but there's that side of life you just can't cater for. You just don't know when it's going to happen.'

'You have to pay tribute to the Spurs fans and you have to pay tribute to the actual players for what went on last night in the footballing world. A lot of people don't think footballers are human but I witnessed that last night. It was first class.'

Dr Jonathan Hill, a consultant cardiologist at King's College Hospital London added: 'Premier League footballers get the best heart checks and screening possible but events can happen that can't be picked up at screening.

'They spend about two days testing the heart when a player has a full medical. Everything is extremely thorough.

'Sportsman aren't necessarily immune from heart disorders. Patrice Muamba was probably just unlucky. You can develop a problem with the heart out of the blue. And no one is really to blame for such events.'

Concern: Tottenham's Jermaine Defoe is consoled on the pitch by Gareth Bale, left. In the image on the right, Tottenham's Benoit Assou-Ekotto, left, William Gallas, Carlo Cudicini and Bolton manager Owen Coyle look on 

Anxious time: Football fans looked on in horror as the player was treated by medics on the pitch

Hope: Tottenham player Rafael van der Vaart prays on the pitch for Fabrice Muamba

Muamba was standing alone on the pitch when he collapsed. As a message was relayed around the stadium that the game was off, the fans applauded and chanted Muamba's name.

Commentating on ESPN, John Barnes said: 'From the players' reaction on both sides it seemed that things were pretty serious.' 

Kevin Keegan added: 'Jermain Defoe seemed absolutely distraught. The fans are in a state of shock. I've never seen anything like that on a football pitch before. Our hearts go out to his family.'

The Football Association also released a statement from chairman David Bernstein wishing Muamba well.

'On behalf of The FA, I would like to send our thoughts and prayers to Fabrice Muamba and his family this evening,' Mr Bernstein said.

'Fabrice has played 33 times for England Under-21s, captaining Stuart Pearce's side during this time and is a player, and more importantly, a person we care greatly for.

'We are in contact with Bolton Wanderers over Fabrice's condition and are awaiting updates.'

Muamba had taken to Twitter earlier today to express his excitement over Bolton's FA Cup tie at White Hart Lane.

Using the username @fmuamba, he tweeted: 'Just reach white hart lane. £COYW lets have it now.'

Distraught: Tottenham players console each other after Fabrice Muamba is taken from the pitch

Struggling: England striker Jermain Defoe was one of the most visibly upset players

Heartbreaking: Bolton's Ivan Klasnic looks distraught as Fabrice Muamba receives treatment

FOOTBALL UNITES IN CONCERN FOR POPULAR PLAYER AFTER COLLAPSE

Worried: England and Manchester United star Wayne Rooney took to Twitter to wish Fabrice Muamba all the best following his collapse

Fabrice Muamba's collapse on the pitch was witnessed not only by a crowd of 36,000 people but also a television audience.

Following the upsetting scenes, a number of footballers took to Twitter to wish the popular player the best.

Here are a selection of their comments.

Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere: 'Hope Muamba is okay. Thoughts with him.'

Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand: 'Come on Fabrice Muamba, praying for you.'

Muamba's Bolton team-mate, Stuart Holden: 'Praying for you Fab. Hope he's OK. Thoughts with him and his family.'

Middlesbrough defender Justin Hoyte: 'I seriously hope my best friend in football is OK. Stay strong bro please please stay strong. God is with you remember that.'

Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone: 'Thoughts with Fab and his family. Feel sick watching this, puts football and everything else into perspective.'

England striker Wayne Rooney: 'Hope fabrice muamba is ok. Praying for him and his family. Still in shock.'

The Football Association: 'Our thoughts and prayers are with Fabrice Muamba and his family right now. A wonderful person.'

Tottenham player Rafael van der Vaart: 'Terrible what happened with Muamba during the game. We're all praying for him.'

Tottenham player Emmanuel Adebayor: 'My thoughts are with Fabrice Muamba's family. We all are praying for him and hope for a speedy recovery.'