A leading heart expert has claimed that Fabrice Muamba could return to football in six months.

The Bolton Wanderers midfielder was discharged from the London Chest Hospital yesterday afternoon, having suffered a cardiac arrest a month earlier.

Dr Richard Cooke, a consultant cardiologist at London Bridge Hospital, believes that it may not be too long before the 24-year-old is able to take to the football field again.

"It would seem highly likely that he would have had a defibrillator put in," Cooke told Press Association Sport.

"There are some footballers who do play with them and have had a similar history, so as long as he makes a full neurological recovery, from a heart perspective there is no reason why he couldn't resume his professional football career.

"It depends entirely on the degree of recovery he has made already, but I understand he has made a surprisingly good recovery and all being well, I would not be surprised if he was back playing football in six months."

Muamba is currently continuing his treatment at hospital nearer his home.