EXCLUSIVE: Muamba's dad tells Bolton - Go and play for my boy
Published 23:00 20/03/12 By Alan Nixon
Bolton boss Owen Coyle is ready to get on with the show - after Fabrice Muamba's father told the club to carry on playing.
Bolton to decide on Blackburn match today
Coyle has left London for the first time since the horrific events of Saturday's FA Cup tie to go home to his family - and to see his players at training on Wednesday.
And the Scot left Muamba's bedside in the London Chest Hospital
with a message from the midfielder's dad Marcel to 'get back out there for Fabrice.'
Coyle and Muamba senior talked through the immediate future as the club wanted to consider the wishes of the family, and was left in no doubt as to what they want.
The Bolton boss will have that thought in mind on Wednesday as he looks at his shaken players close-up and talks to them about what lies ahead.
Coyle gave his squad and staff a couple of days off to recover from the gruelling experience that had left so many emotionally shattered and fearing for their team-mate and friend.
Many were in London on Tuesday to say hello to Muamba, with club captain Kevin Davies, Nigel Reo-Coker, Mark Davies and Darren Pratley among the visitors.
Some went to the training ground on Monday, but training was cancelled on Tuesday.
The initial reaction of senior club officials was to walk away from the FA Cup and pull out of any quarter-final rematch with Tottenham next week, but that may now change.
Coyle wants to look into the eyes of his squad and see whether they are up to resuming their season as quickly as possible.
Saturday's relegation six-pointer derby against Blackburn is likely to go ahead - barring any setback news on Muamba.
Coyle is prepared to play the Tottenham game out of respect for Muamba but will be guided by the wishes and the reactions of his players.
Bolton chairman Phil Gartside has kept the FA in the loop about developments and there is no pressure from any party to make a quick decision.
The mood around the Lancashire club has lifted and changed beyond recognition since the dark hours after Muamba collapsed on the White Hart Lane pitch.
