A YOUNG boy was bitten on the cheek during a vicious attempted robbery in Sydney’s north.

Deklan Manley, 13, and a friend were confronted by two men at a shopping centre on Herring Road, at Macquarie Park, at around 11.40am on Monday morning.

The boy pushed away one of the males who allegedly tried to steal his shoes but was then assaulted and bitten on the cheek before he managed to escape, police said.

In a press conference Tuesday, Acting Superintendent Jason Weinstein told reporters Manley was recovering.

“We spoke to the victim today ... he’s doing well,” Mr Weinstein said. “He has some bruising on the cheek area as a result of the fight, but there’s been no actual wounds.”

The men have been described as caucasian, aged between 18 and 22 years old, and between 170 and 180 centimetres tall.

One man was described as having blonde, short and shaven hair and a tattoo of the letter “K” on the back of his left hand.

He was last seen wearing a grey hooded jumper, green cargo pants and a black baseball cap.

The second man was described as unshaven, and has short hair and a tattoo of a rose on the back of his hand.

Police do not believe the victim was targeted for anything other than to steal his clothes.