By THOMAS FLOYD

Less than three weeks after his heart stopped for 78 minutes, Fabrice Muamba is walking again.

The Bolton midfielder, who suffered a heart attack in an FA Cup match at Tottenham on March 17, has been up and about at the London Chest Hospital, according to Wanderers manager Owen Coyle. Muamba just last week left his bed for the first time and began eating again

Coyle said Muamba has already ''done some short periods of walking down the corridor. … He is taking steps, talking and has that big smile.''

Here are some more stories to keep your Thursday rolling:

KUYT CONSIDERING MOVE TO ROMA

Sporadic playing time could trigger a move this summer ending Dirk Kuyt's time at Liverpool, and his agent has identified AS Roma as one enticing landing spot for the forward.

"Kuyt is considering his future," Rob Jansen told Pagine Romaniste. "AS Roma could be an option for Dirk. They are a prestigious club that is fighting for important objectives. With [Roma sporting director Walter] Sabatini, there is an excellent relationship."

A fixture in the Netherlands starting lineup, Kuyt has compiled just two goals and one assist in 19 Premier league appearances (10 starts) for Liverpool this season while Jordan Henderson has often been preferred to him on the right flank.

If Kuyt did move to Roma, he could potentially face Liverpool this summer, when the two clubs meet in a friendly at Boston's Fenway Park in July.

BENFICA PRESIDENT PLANS PROTEST

In the wake of Benfica's Champions League exit Wednesday at the hands of Chelsea, club president Luis Felipe Vieira has vowed to file a protest with the Portuguese Football Federation, saying, "It is evident that this is a business and that there was no desire to see Benfica go through."

After Chelsea won the first leg of the quarterfinal 1-0 in Lisbon, the Blues claimed a 2-1 triumph at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday to clinch passage to the semifinals. Benfica played most of the match down a man after Maxi Pereira picked up his second yellow card in the 40th minute.

"We were not allowed to eliminate Chelsea," Vieira told RTP. "Benfica were the better team and deserved to go through, but other factors seriously hindered us."

JAPAN WOMEN WIN KIRIN CUP

The Japan women's national team thrashed Brazil 4-1 on Thursday, allowing the host nation to edge the U.S. on total goals and lift the three-team Kirin Cup.

Strikes from Yuki Nagasato, Aya Miyama and Yuika Sugasawa, as well as a Brazil own goal, paced Japan to victory and dealt Brazil its third consecutive loss. The U.S. women and Japan had played to a 1-1 draw on Sunday before the Americans beat Brazil 3-0 on Tuesday.

—————-

Happy to see Muamba walking again so soon? Would Roma be a good landing spot for Kuyt? Does Benfica's president have a legitimate complaint? Think the Japan women are the favorites to win the gold medal at this summer's Olympics, or can you see the United States knocking them off?

Share your thoughts below.