Muamba praises Bolton boss Coyle

Last updated : 26 March 2010 By BBC Sport

"Since the gaffer has come in things have changed, and you can see the way we have been playing and the confidence in the team," said Muamba.

Bolton are currently 14th, eight points above the relegation zone.

Coyle has transformed Bolton's fortunes since taking over from Gary Megson and Muamba is certain the club will stay up.

"We'll definitely stay up," he told BBC Radio Manchester. "Another two wins and we should be fine.

"That's credit to the manager and the staff, and hopefully we can continue this way for the rest of the season.

"I know I've enjoyed playing under him so far. I would say I've been in the best form of my career."

Bolton have kept five clean sheets in the 13 league matches since Coyle's arrival, having failed to manage one under Megson in the first half of the season.

"It's the way he speaks to the players, the way he goes about his business as a manager, which is different to the previous regime," assessed Muamba.

I would say I've been in the best form of my career

Fabrice Muamba

"He talks to everybody, he gives them confidence, so when you get a chance you make sure you take it.

"I've been fortunate to play every game under him, and I now hope to carry on the way we have been playing, and finish higher than we did last year."

Bolton welcome champions and current table-toppers Manchester United to the Reebok Stadium on Saturday. Wanderers are unbeaten in their last six games at home, conceding just once.

"The game will be a real test as to how far we have come under Owen Coyle, but I'm sure we'll rise to the occasion," said Muamba.

"Since he came in we think we can beat anybody right now. We've got this mentality which we can take into the game to get a result.

"Manchester United might be on top of their game, but we're a Bolton team on top of our game at home.

Muamba to man mark Rooney? He has done so very effectively to many other top players this season

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"If we play the way we've been playing, we know we can give anybody a game on any given day."

The major test will be shackling Wayne Rooney, who has scored 17 goals in his last 12 matches, and who already has Muamba's vote for player of the season.

He added: "He's probably the best striker in the world right now. His work rate for the team and goals tally says everything about the guy and his personality. Hopefully on Saturday we can keep him quiet for 90 minutes."

Meanwhile, Gary Cahill is poised to end his two-month injury lay-off but Bolton will be without the suspended Gretar Steinsson, while Stuart Holden, Chris Basham, Gavin McCann, Sean Davis and Joey O'Brien remain sidelined.

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport