Defoe’s Lionheart
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EXCITED Bradley Lowery jumped for joy after hearing he will be an England mascot alongside his hero Jermain Defoe.
The brave youngster, who is battling terminal cancer, will be reunited with his “best mate” at the Three Lions’ World Cup match against Lithuania.
The Sunderland striker won a shock recall to the England squad more than three years after his last appearance.
And the FA had already invited Bradley to be a mascot for the vital qualifier. So now they will walk out together at Wembley on March 26.
Sleepy
Jermain, 34, and five-year-old Sunderland fan Bradley have forged a firm friendship.
Bradley is a frequent visitor to the team’s Stadium of Light, while the striker was recently pictured hugging the sleepy schoolboy on his hospital bed. Defoe also carried the youngster on to the pitch when Sunderland played Everton at Goodison Park last month.
Bradley’s mum Gemma posted a video on Twitter showing his reaction to Jermain’s England recall.
She wrote: “He was over the moon to hear his best mate Defoe had been called up for the England game when he is mascot.”
Gemma asks him: “Guess what? Guess who’s going to the England match next week?” Bradley replies: “Who?” When she says: “Jermain!” he bounces up and down with excitement and says he’s “buzzing”. Bradley, from Blackhall Colliery, Co Durham, is battling neuroblastoma.
His family have raised £700,000 for treatment. His plight touched the hearts of the nation and he was sent 250,000 Christmas cards. Writing on his Facebook page, Gemma said: “Thanks everyone for the support.”