[bbfan1991]

Fabrice Muamba is to become a father for the second time.

Friends of the former Bolton Wanderers footballer say that he and wife Shauna are "elated" with the baby news.

The news comes just under a year after Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch in a match against Tottenham Hotspur.

Muamba was technically 'dead' for 78 minutes after his heart had stopped, before he went on to make a full recovery.

However, he retired from professional football five months later in August.

The couple discovered that Shauna Muamba was pregnant just before Christmas, reports The Sun.

One friend said: "The baby is due in June. They would have been thrilled anyway, but given what happened to Fabrice last year, they feel even more blessed and lucky.

"Both were looking forward to 2013, but this makes it more special."

The couple got married at Peckforton Castle in Cheshire in October 2012, and they already have a 4-year-old son named Josh.

Fabrice Muamba took part in a Christmas special of Strictly Come Dancing last month.

Aww congratulatuons to this lovely couple, wonderful news!