A young Manchester United fan got the surprise of his life when Jesse Lingard knocked on his door and asked for a kickabout.

Harley Watson, eight, from Heywood, was gutted after Lingard switched squad numbers from 35 to 14... just days after the schoolboy received a new away shirt with his hero’s name on it.

His dad Chad tried to switch the £65 Adidas shirt but was told by shop staff that they unfortunately could not exchange or refund the item.

The family posted a picture online of Harley wearing the now-redundant shirt on Twitter and asked Lingard if there was anything he could do.

To their delight, a representative of the United star responded and promised that a brand new shirt would be delivered.

But the family were bowled over when there was a knock on the door on Saturday afternoon... and it was Lingard himself.

Chad, 28, who lives with partner Vicky and his 19-month-old daughter, said: “He absolutely loves Jesse. He’s by far his favourite player and he was made up with the shirt.

“But he was obviously gutted when he changed numbers.

“We were happy to just get a new shirt. And when they asked if we’d be in I was just expecting the postman or a FedEx delivery man.

“So I was gobsmacked when there a big black Range Rover pulled up outside and Jesse got out.

“Next thing he was playing footy in the garden with Harley. It was surreal."

The 23 year-old England international from Warrington, who came through United’s academy, stayed for around 15 minutes and even had a kickabout in the family’s back garden with Harley, a pupil at Our Lady and St Paul’s primary school, before heading back to the team hotel.

United played West Ham at Old Trafford in the Premier League the following day.

Chad said: “He was such a nice guy. He was chatting to him about school and asking if he plays for a football team.

“He gave him a brand new red home shirt with his name and new number on. He also signed it and wrote ‘if I ever change my number again you’ll be the first to know.’

“Harley was absolutely over the moon. You can’t buy experiences like that, he will remember it forever.”

It is not the first time that Lingard has gone the extra mile for a fan.

In September he was one of four Reds players who went to visit dying lifelong fan Patrick Lawler, 73, at his home in Wythenshawe.

It followed an appeal from his granddaughter and he passed away just 45 minutes afterwards.