Muamba regrets McCarthy tackle

(GSM) – Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba has said that he “regrets” the challenge on James McCarthy, which left the Wigan Athletic star awaiting the results of hospital scans.

Muamba caught McCarthy from behind during Saturday’s 1-1 draw between the sides and the tackle left McCarthy on a stretcher, with the Wigan midfielder taken to hospital for further assessment.

Results of the scans are yet to be disclosed but Latics boss Roberto Martinez has said “it doesn’t look too good”.

Muamba says there was no intent and that he has misgivings over the challenge.

“The defender played a straight ball to James McCarthy and I thought I had a 50% chance of getting the ball as it was so direct to him,” Muamba told talkSPORT. “I thought I could just nick it and push the team forward.

“When I came in so fast, I slightly nicked the ball and he then landed awkwardly. I didn’t go in to injure James, it wasn’t planned or anything like that, when we walked in at half-time he was standing up fine.

“It messed me up a bit when he left the pitch, I didn’t really know what had happened to him so I was kind of worried. I didn’t want him to get injured or anything like that, so I kind of regret it a little bit but I did just go in to get the ball.

“Everything is happening so fast that it’s really difficult to put the brakes on. When it happened it happened so quick, and it kind of messed my mind up a bit as I didn’t know what had happened.”