Smiling Muamba posts photo on Twitter

Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba cheered his legions of well-wishers on Friday after releasing a smiling photograph of himself on micro-blogging site Twitter.

In the first image of Muamba since he was stretchered off the pitch at Tottenham two weeks ago following a massive heart attack, the former England Under-21 is sitting up in his hospital bed beaming a smile.

"Fab wanted me to post this pic for you all and to also say thank you for such overwhelming support," an accompanying message said.

Muamba, who was regarded as "effectively dead" after his heart stopped beating for 78 minutes, is making a slow recovery at the London Chest Hospital.