Soccer:The hospital treating Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba has confirmed the player can now recognise family members and respond to their questions. Forty-eight hours after he collapsed during an FA Cup quarter-final tie against Tottenham at White Hart Lane, where he suffered a cardiac arrest, it is the clearest indication yet that Muamba is winning his battle for life.

"Fabrice Muamba remains in intensive care at the London Chest Hospital and is continuing to show signs of improvement this evening," said the joint statement released by the London Chest Hospital and Bolton.

"He is now able to breathe independently, without the aid of a ventilator and he is able to recognise family members and respond to questions appropriately. These are positive signs of progress.

"However, his condition remains serious and our medical staff in intensive care will continue to monitor and treat him. His family and club would like to thank the media for continuing to respect their privacy at this time."

The confirmation follows claims from Curtis Codrington, who says he is a friend of Muamba and is one of only 83 people followed by the player on social networking site Twitter, that he had started speaking in French and English.

Bolton sources have said that the 23-year-old has made considerable progress and the signs are looking extremely positive for the player. However, they are cautioning against over-optimism, pointing out that it is not unknown for patients to plateau at this stage and that Muamba remains wired up and is still officially on the critical list.

Nevertheless, the latest updates are more than Bolton's anxious players, staff and supporters dared hope as medics battled for two hours to get Muamba's heart beating again after it stopped at White Hart Lane.

The player's fiancee, Shauna Muamba, wrote on Twitter: "All your prayers are working people thank u so so much. Every prayer makes him stronger. To God be the glory."

Earlier, speaking for the first time since the game, Bolton captain Kevin Davies said Muamba owed his life to the support he received almost instantly.

"There is no doubt in my mind if it wasn't down to all those people, we wouldn't even be in this situation," said Davies.

Bolton have not confirmed how long manager Owen Coyle intends to maintain his own vigil for the player, although he is expected to remain in the capital for a further two days.

That would throw into question Bolton's ability to fulfil Saturday's scheduled Premier League game with Blackburn at the Reebok Stadium.

The Lancashire derby may go a long way to determining whether Bolton will remain in the Premier League this season.

It is understood there is enough flexibility within the fixture schedule for that game to be postponed, although the rescheduled FA Cup tie with Tottenham would take precedence in any rearrangement and that would normally take place at some point next week.

However, that game is far from Coyle's mind at the moment.

"We are all after the same objective; to see that lovely young man, who has such a fantastic smile. That's what we want to see again," said the Scot this lunchtime. "When you look through what he's come through in his life already, he's a natural fighter. Also, he's a physically fit young man so I think those two things will be a source of help and encouragement."

Muamba left his home in war-torn Congo in 1999 and was reunited with his father, who had fled five years earlier and sought asylum in Britain after becoming a target for rebels.

The 23-year-old has overcome such a difficult start in life to become an England Under-21 international, joining Arsenal as a youth team player, before moving onto Birmingham and then Bolton for £5million in 2008.

Though not one of the most flamboyant players, Muamba was amongst the most industrious, which just makes the shock at what has happened even more acute for Bolton skipper Kevin Davies, who spoke today for the first time since the weekend drama unfolded.

"We all love Fabrice," said Davies. "I respect him hugely for coming from where he was to where he is now. He is one of the first into training and has worked extremely hard to better himself. He is always out there doing a bit extra. That is the reason why he has been so successful and has a massive career ahead of him."

Bolton's players had a team meeting at their Euxton training complex this morning to be given the latest bulletin.

They already knew the scheduled encounter with Aston Villa tomorrow had been postponed.

However, Davies said Bolton's next game was the last thing on his mind.

"Any of those questions are irrelevant at the minute," he said. "Decisions will have to be made but my immediate thoughts are with Fabrice and his family. The club will take a stance on it in the next couple of days. But at the minute we want to just try and help Fabrice."