Michael Essien has visited Fabrice Muamba in hospital and he is encouraged by the progress of the Bolton player following a cardiac arrest.

Fears for the life of the midfielder sparked some soul searching after collapsing while playing against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

These reports followed a succession of improvements in Muamba’s condition after the footballer had spent two days in a medically induced coma in an effort to reduce swelling around his brain.

Essien, who visited the hospital on Monday night, said Muamba had spoken in both French and English to him.

“We are happy [he is doing better] and we keep praying for him so that he can come back and enjoy his football,” Essien said.

“The family is staying strong and the boy is strong himself so that is a good thing. On the pitch he is a very strong guy and off it he is always smiling.”

There was also a procession of Premier League footballers offering their support, with Arsenal’s Johan Djourou, Queen’s Park Rangers’ Shaun Wright-Phillips and the Chelsea duo of Didier Drogba and Ashley Cole paying visits yesterday.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Emmanuel Adebayor, who missed the abandoned match on Saturday evening with a hamstring strain, arrived at 7.10pm.