Bolton Wanderers boss Gary Megson is delighted midfielder Fabrice Muamba is finally receiving the recognition he richly deserves for his performances since arriving at the Reebok Stadium.

Muamba began his football education under the guidance of Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, but following a two-year loan spell at Birmingham City he was deemed surplus to requirments and was soon on his way Bolton in a £5million deal in 2008.

And Megson believes the 21-year-old, who shone at the European Under-21 Championships with England in the summer, is finally getting the credit he deserves after a host of impressive performances over the past 12 months.

"People are finally starting to realise what he actually does. Fab was brought in for the qualities he is showing, and always shown," Megson told the club’s official website.

"If you want someone to sit in front of your back four, you are not going to get much better. If you want somebody threading the ball through for penetrating runs, then there are other people who can do that."

Meanwhile, Muamba has admitted he still harbours hopes of gatecrashing Fabio Capello's England squad for the World Cup finals in South Africa after taking heart from the Italian's policies over selection.

He told the Daily Express: "I never get jealous of the boys who have stepped up to the full set-up. They have done extremely well to get up there.

"It just goes to show that if you are playing well, Mr Capello is willing to give everybody a chance and it is great they've done that."