Jermain Defoe pays tribute to late Bradley Lowery on what would have been his seventh birthday

JERMAIN DEFOE has paid an emotional tribute to Bradley Lowery as he marked what would have been his seventh birthday.

England striker Defoe struck up an extraordinary friendship as the Sunderland fan battled a rare form of cancer.

Bradley passed away last July having captured the hearts of the country with his amazing hunger which saw him smile through the pain of his illness.

The Sunderland fan would have celebrated his seventh birthday today, and Bournemouth star Defoe posted an emotional tribute on Twitter.

He wrote: "Bradley would have been seven years old today. I know you’re up there smiling down on us, especially your mum, dad and brother, and I bet you’re throwing another memorable party.

"Happy birthday, mate. We miss you and love you more than you’ll ever know..."

Defoe met Bradley when he was a mascot at Sunderland, and the youngster immediately made a beeline for his favourite player.

That meeting led to an amazing friendship develop between the striker and Bradley's family, as he bravely fought against the childhood cancer neuroblastoma.

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The youngster's happy-go-lucky character immediately captured the imagination of football fans across the country.

And in emotional scenes the boy shrugged off the pain of his illness to lead out England as mascot, carried in the arms of his idol Defoe.

The Bradley Lowery's Fight charity was set up, raising millions for the fight against neuroblastoma - and illness which strikes fewer than 100 children in the UK each year.

Defoe has played a leading role in helping to keep the cause in the public eye, and has remained close friends with the Lowery family since his death.

And it continues to raise funds for research into the condition, with Bradley's legacy living on.