Fabrice Muamba has begun to walk again, less than three weeks after suffering a heart attack while playing for Bolton Wanderers at Tottenham and being described as ‘technically dead’ for 78 minutes after his collapse during the FA Cup quarterfinal.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle said Muamba, who will be 24 on Friday, was walking down a corridor in the intensive care unit of a London hospital, where he has remained since he collapsed on March 17.

“He’s taking steps, talking and has that big smile we love to see,” said Coyle, when asked for an update on the former England Under-21 international’s condition. "He is progressing the right way."