A BURY FC mad five-year-old who broke his leg while attempting a football trick in his front room has received the perfect tonic — a surprise visit from his favourite player.

Football fanatic Lewis Allen broke his tibia while playing at his house in Westcombe Drive and spent three days in hospital following the injury.

The Woodbank Primary School pupil received the shock of his life when Bury FC player Ryan Lowe visited his home, after his uncle David got in touch with the striker on Twitter.

His dad Jon, a train driver, said: "He was dumbstruck, he has not been able to take the smile off his face since."

The kind-hearted footballer has donated a pair of his signed boots, and also arranged for Lewis to visit the dressing room during Bury's fixture against Oxford United at the JD Stadium last Saturday, so he could have his cast signed by the players.

Jon said: "It all came through my brother, and Lewis's uncle. He asked Ryan whether he would come and visit him, so Ryan came to our house, and Lewis was in shock, as he is his favourite player.

"It was a bit of a freak injury really. He was trying out a football trick and he twisted his ankle. At first that was all we thought it was, but after an X-ray we found out he had snapped a bone in his leg.

"We heard a crack, but we just thought it was his knee joint."

Lewis is a season ticket holder at the JD Stadium, and has gone to matches with his dad for most of his short life.

His first match was the near 540 mile, 10 hour round trip to Torquay United, aged just one.

Bury won 4-3, and he has had the bug ever since.

As well as going to watch Bury, he plays every week at the Mini Kickers sessions at Play Football, next to Bury College.

But Lewis is expected to be out of action for at least a couple of months, as he will be in plaster for another four to six weeks, and will have another smaller cast for another few weeks after that.

Jon added: "He is doing better now, and starting to get around OK. I think some of the other Bury supporters in our family might think about breaking their leg now!"