SOCCER star Niall Quinn has put a smile back on the face of a teenage cancer sufferer.

The Sunderland striker visited Gary Harvey at home to ask him to be his guest of honour at his testimonial match.

The 13-year-old was diagnosed six months ago with cancer of the collarbone and has had six courses of chemotherapy.

Gary will be joined by his mother, Susan, 40, father John, 42, and brother David, 16, at the match on Tuesday.

The family wrote to Niall to tell him about Gary's plight but were astonished when he arrived at their Sunderland home.

Gary is recovering from his final operation and after radiotherapy aims to build up his muscles again and return to Thornhill School.