ARTHUR, FOUR, WAS DELIGHTED TO BE INVITED TO MIDFIELDER’S HOME

A YOUNG boy fighting for his life against a cancer so rare it has never been seen anywhere in the world has received the support of Newcastle United.

Arthur Salters-hoult, of Wallsend, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia earlier this year but blood tests revealed a chromosome mutation never seen before.

His health took a rapid decline last week when he suffered sepsis, but the brave fouryear-old pulled through.

Despite being so unwell, the Newcastle United fan has been watching games from his hospital bed and on Thursday Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes paid tribute to the youngster.

Bruno jumped on the advertising board at St James’ Park after scoring a late strike against Brighton and made the shape ‘A’ with his fingers (pictured above), later revealing the tribute was for Arthur.

Arthur’s dad, Ricky Hoult, 30, was at the match and said the moment cheered him up after such a difficult week.

He said: “He was very poorly and almost didn’t make it. He got sepsis and had a bad weekend.

“Unfortunately due to the chemotherapy there is a risk of infection because he can’t fight anything off.

“I’d had pretty much the worst week of my life. In all honesty I have been very down and upset. I was thinking about not going to the game because the RVI is only 500 yards away if anything happened.

“My phone notifications started going bing, bing, bing. Everyone, especially close friends and family, knew it was Arthur.

“I had no idea he was going to do it. It was lovely.”

Bruno was touched by Arthur’s story and after inviting the youngster and his dad, along with mum, Helen Saltershoult,

to his home they have become friends.

Ricky said: “They got in touch with us and said come to our house. We went to their house and they were absolutely lovely.”

Following beating Brighton 4-1, Bruno took to social media to share a picture and wrote: “This was for you, my young boy!! We are behind you! Everything will be alright!!!”

And the rest of the Newcastle United squad also showed they were behind the youngster by sharing a group shot on Instagram holding a Newcastle shirt with ‘You can beat this Arthur’ on the back.

Ricky and Helen have been using the shirt to encourage people to sign up to the stem cell donors list. Arthur may have to undergo a bone marrow transplant in the future, but it is too early to tell.

Ricky added: “It is about getting people to sign up on the donor list and I have had 100 people emailing me to say they have joined.

“It is too early in Arthur’s diagnosis but it might help save someone else’s life now.”

■ To join the list, the visit: anthonynolan.org or dkms.org. uk