Last updated on .From the section Man City

Sterling with Ethan Ross, who is at Newport County's academy

Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling has met a young fan he wrote to after the teenager was racially abused.

Sterling, 24, wrote a letter to Ethan Ross after the boy's grandmother revealed he had been having a "tough time" because of the abuse.

He met the Newport County academy player after City's FA Cup fifth-round win at the Welsh side on Saturday.

"It was probably as heartwarming for me as it was for you to finally meet up, Ethan," Sterling said on Twitter. external-link

"Again, always be proud of who you are, and never stay silent. #SpeakUp #youthsarethefuture."

Sterling was an unused substitute as City beat County 4-1 in Wales to reach the quarter-finals.

He has been the victim of abuse himself, the most recent incident being alleged racist abuse in a game at Chelsea in December.

In the aftermath of that incident, he said newspapers "fuel racism" by their coverage of young black footballers.