AN 11-year old amputee has achieved a life-long dream of training with the Manchester City squad.
Idris Sherifi, of Greenhill, Prestwich, had to have part of his leg amputated after being diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, a type of bone cancer.
His father Ahmed said having the operation was a massive blow for the budding young runner and footballer.
"When we saw his leg afterwards we were all shocked," Ahmed said.
"Idris was so upset to lose his leg because he was always a very fast runner and loves football as much as I do.
"Disability football changed his life because we thought he couldn’t do that kind of thing. I loved taking him to matches and he started training on both a Monday and a Tuesday at Etihad because he liked it so much."
Unfortunately for Idirs, his cancer returned a year later in his lung and he had to go through more surgery and battle back once more, before being given the all-clear months later.
Once he recovered, children's charity Make-A-Wish arranged for Idris to meet the players from his favourite football team, train and even walk out at the Etihad Stadium as Mascot.
Idris described the experience as a 'dream come true'.
He said: "I was so excited when Vincent Kompany invited me to training, I couldn’t believe he was talking to me!
"Playing football with Sergio Aguero, meeting the whole team and walking out at the Etihad was a dream come true, it’s been amazing."
One of the Make-A-Wish charity's official supporters is Bury actress Helen Flanagan, and they're currently asking people to swap their Sunday best for pyjamas for a national duvet day, this Sunday, December 2.
Families are being encouraged to buy a pair of limited edition pair of pyjamas from discount department store the Original Factory Shop, and share their duvet day pictures on social media, using the hashtag #BeAStar and #TOFSXmas.
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