Jonas Gutierrez made his comeback from testicular cancer in Newcastle United ’s defeat to Manchester United last Wednesday. Sports writer Steph Clark spoke to the midfielder about his battle against the disease and how he wants to help raise awareness to prevent others from suffering

AFTER undergoing an operation to remove his left testicle and several gruelling sessions of chemotherapy you would forgive Jonas Gutierrez for wanting to focus on nothing but his own health.

The Argentine made his first appearance only four months after being given the all-clear from doctors following his battle against testicular cancer last Wednesday, but the 31-year-old has other ideas.

Some might find it difficult to comprehend an athlete that trains every day with access to some of the best medical care and facilities being diagnosed with the illness, but Gutierrez’s story hammers home the message that it can strike at any time and to anyone.

While he is hoping to use the Magpies’ final ten games of the season to earn a new deal at St James’ Park – his current contract expires in the summer - Gutierrez has another ambition, and that is to spread the word about the disease that threatened to cut short his career.

After training at Newcastle’s Darsley Park complex ahead of Sunday’s trip to Everton, Gutierrez accepted a cheque from former team-mate Steve Harper on behalf of testicular cancer charity Ballboys.

The former Magpies goalkeeper teamed up with a number of friends including Richard Metcalfe and Paul Varley last year to launch a range of unique boxer shorts under the brand name Oddballs and ten per cent of the sale price of every pair is donated to testicular cancer charities.

Gutierrez missed 17 months of action in total after getting, and beating, the disease twice and the midfielder recalled the time doctors confirmed his worst fears in October 2013.

“In that moment you don't think about anything. You go into shock, you go blank,” Gutierrez said.

“You never know what is going to happen. The best thing you can do is what the doctor tells you and try to be positive.

“The thing I thought at the time was 'Right, I will do everything I can'. I will go to have the treatment, the operation and then I will go into recovery.

“I will do everything the doctor tells me - and if you think that, then nothing else comes into your mind.

“As a player you get check-ups all the year and do sport all the year.

“People think we're super-heroes, but you see that this type of thing can happen to anyone. All you can do is to be positive, have faith and do what the doctor tells you.”

Although the 31-year-old knew something wasn’t right the doctor’s diagnosis came out of the blue, because there was no history of the disease in his family.

Now he wants to give his time to support charities like Ballboys, which aims to raise awareness and educate the population on the facts, figures and issues of testicular cancer.

He said: “It's good to help, more when you go through the treatment that I went through.

“It's so important to help and to let people know more about this type of illness. I'm really pleased to help out.

“It's really important information. Before, I didn't know anything about cancer - I didn't have any family with cancer - but then when I had to learn.

"You want to know what and why they tell you to do things.

"I think it's really important to get more information to understand cancer.”

Gutierrez became an instant favourite with fans on Tyneside following his move from Real Mallorca in 2008 because of his famous goal celebration that included pulling a Spiderman mask from his shorts.

The Argentine was also recognisable from his long black locks but after undergoing chemotherapy he is now sporting a new shorter style.

“At the beginning it was hard but when you are with the different patients in the chemotherapy unit you see the girls and the women and they don’t care about their hair.

“I thought if they don’t care about their hair I won’t worry about mine. I’m not planning on growing it back.”

So what about the mask? “I don’t have one anymore but I think I might buy a new one!”

Oddballs boxer shorts are available in a range of sizes and, along with plain colours, shoppers can choose from a variety of designs.

Two and three pair packs are also available costing £17.99 and £24.99 respectively.

For further information or to purchase Oddballs boxer shorts, visit www.myoddballs.com