A former Premier League footballer who nearly died on the pitch urged young players to prepare for life after football.

The career of Fabrice Muamba was cut short after his heart stopped for more than an hour during a game in March 2012.

Now retired, the 25-year-old met members of Brighton and Hove Albion's Football Academy at the American Express Community Stadium to inspire budding superstars to think beyond their next fixture.

Muamba, who was visiting the city as part of his FA ambassador role and who is currently studying sports journalism at Staffordshire University, said: “In any workplace when somebody is very focussed and has a good attitude they tend to go to a high position in any workplace.

“Footballers have it in them if they take the ego of a normal person and find their role outside of football.”

The former England under-21 also praised the set-up at the club including a “great stadium”, was impressed with the club's new training centre and said he hoped the club would reach the promised land of the Premier League “sooner rather than later”.