A nine-year-old football fan whose sporting injury turned out to be a rare form of cancer has met his hero.

Harry Mills, from Reading, will be spending his 10th birthday in hospital but has had his spirits lifted after meeting Liverpool FC captain, Virgil van Dijk.

When Harry started suffering with a persistent pain in his right leg it was thought he had injured himself playing football at school.

After a visit to the physiotherapist, Harry was sent home on crutches with instructions to ice and compress his leg.

But after seeing little improvement over 11 weeks, Harry’s dad, Andy Mills, knew something was not right and took his son to see a private knee surgeon.

Harry was diagnosed with undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, a rare form of cancer which accounts for less than 1 per cent of all cancers.

Harry is now facing 18 rounds of chemotherapy and invasive surgery to remove any bone and muscle in his leg that the cancer has affected.

Talking about the surgery his dad Andy said: “An implant will be inserted into Harry’s leg to substitute the removed bone and muscle.

"Every six months it will need to be expanded with magnets, to keep up with Harry’s growth.

"The implant will last about five years and will then need replacing, so he’ll be in and out of hospital for the rest of his life."

Due to his condition, sports lover Harry is unlikely to be able to play his favourite sports, football, cricket and rugby, competitively

However, Harry recently received a much-needed boost when he was invited to watch his favourite team, Liverpool FC, play Everton at Anfield Stadium.

After the match, Harry got to meet - and even hug – his favourite player, Liverpool’s star defender, Virgil van Dijk. where he received a signed personalised Liverpool FC shirt and the captain’s armband.

Previously a group of Harry's classmates shaved their heads in solidarity with Harry’s recovery, raising over £30,000 on JustGiving for the Young Lives vs Cancer charity.

Harry, who is currently on his fourth round of chemotherapy, has been unable to attend school due to his treatment.

As well as the head shave, Harry’s sisters, Laura, 30, and Abi, 21, also took part in an 80-mile walk and raised more than £5,000 for Young Lives vs Cancer.

Pascale Harvie, President and General Manager of JustGiving said: “Harry is a superstar. Despite all that he is sadly going through, he and his 12 amazing classmates, decided to bravely help other young people affected by cancer and have raised an incredible £30,000 for Young Lives vs Cancer." 

To donate to Harry’s JustGiving page, click here.