MIRACLE man Fabrice Muamba showed he still has some fancy footwork as he kicked up a storm for Strictly Come Dancing — just months after retiring from the pitch following his brush with death.

The former Bolton Wanderers midfielder, who suffered a cardiac arrest during an FA Cup tie, showed off his salsa skills with professional partner Aliona Vilani for the Christmas edition of the BBC1 show.

He joined figures such as JLS star JB Gill — who found fame on rival show The X Factor — and comic Bobby Ball in the one-off festive show to be screened on Christmas Day.

Muamba, aged 24, looked delighted to be on the dancefloor performing to The Waitresses’ track Christmas Wrapping.

He had told of his desire to be on the show weeks before he was linked to it — and in particular his love of the latin dance.

In a recent interview he revealed he turned down ITV's Dancing On Ice, and added: “I'd do Strictly Come Dancing. I love my salsa, so I'd be well up for that.”

Fans — and the world of football — were left horrified in March when the player collapsed in front of 35,000 people in a match against Spurs. The Congo-born player, who recently tied the knot with Shauna Magunda, was technically dead for 78 minutes but was brought back after repeated shocks from a defibrillator, which made his heart beat again.

He has since had to give up football because of his medical condition. Other new faces to appear on the Christmas show include Katy Brand, Sheila Hancock and Helen Skelton. Chart star Gill is seen performing a colossal leap high above his partner Ola Jordan during the show, to be screened on Christmas Day at 6.15pm. The programme will also see a number of past contestants returning including Natasha Kaplinsky, Chelsee Healey, Chris Hollins and Rachel Stevens.

Hard-to-please judge Craig Revel Horwood will also be showing his lighter side as he dresses up as Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer during the 75-minute show.