Fabrice Muamba able to sit out of bed and eat in hospital

Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba has been able to sit out of bed in hospital, eat and watch his team-mates on Match of the Day.

"He continues to make encouraging progress in his recovery," said a joint hospital and club statement.

Manager Owen Coyle said Muamba watched highlights on Sunday morning of the 2-1 Premier League win over Blackburn.

"If there is a bit of humour that comes out of that, I am led to believe he fell asleep when it was 2-0," he said.

The Scot is treating Tuesday's rearranged FA Cup quarter-final tie as "a chance to thank the Tottenham Hotspur fans" for their support.

The game sees Bolton return to White Hart Lane for the first time since the midfielder's cardiac arrest shortly before half-time led to the match being abandoned.

"Last Saturday it was almost like a sixth sense had taken over," said Coyle.

"There was a real sense of unity. Is it going to be tough [to return]? Yes."

Several Bolton players plan to visit Muamba as he recovers in intensive care at the London Chest Hospital, while fans staged a tribute before Saturday's game.

A statement from the hospital and Bolton on Monday said: "Over the weekend, he has been able to sit out of bed for a short time, watch television and has begun to eat.

"However, he will need to continue to be closely monitored by the medical team at the London Chest Hospital for some time.

"His family requests that he receive no more visitors for the moment, outside of immediate family and members of Bolton Wanderers Football Club."

Football figures from around the world have offered their support as the 23-year-old continues to recuperate.

Barcelona and Real Madrid players have worn T-shirts expressing their best wishes, with the same gesture replicated by Premier League teams in action at the weekend.

Coyle said: "He [Muamba] was so taken in and thankful that he wanted to express that to everybody for the support that has been shown to him.

"I think as well in the last few days he's been able to take in more the goodwill that globally he's been getting from people.

"But it's so great to know that bit by bit he is getting better."

Spurs have revealed that the match shirts worn by both teams for the replay will be signed and auctioned, with proceeds going to the London Chest Hospital, the London Ambulance Service, the British Heart Foundation, Pan Africa Heart Foundation and CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young).