Jack Grealish shares a hug with a child in a wheelchair as Man City stars bring Christmas cheer in visit to local hospital by donating gift bags and blankets

• City will head to Saudi Arabia next week to compete to win the Club World Cup
• Jack Grealish notably struck up a friendship with young fan Finlay Fisher in 2022
• CHRIS SUTTON: I was RIGHT to call Man United players ‘snakes’ last week – IAKO

Jack Grealish joined his Manchester City team-mates on a visit to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital as part of their ‘Greatest Season of All’ Christmas campaign.

The England forward was seen interacting with and talking to a number of patients at the hospital, as well as teaming up with Nathan Ake in a game of table football during the visit. 

So far, the campaign has raised more than £200,000 towards community projects for young people in Greater Manchester.

The Man City star has previously been quick to make time for young fans, notably struck up a heart-warming relationship with young fan Finlay Fisher.

Fisher suffers from cerebral palsy – as does his sister – and the two shred a number of touching moments ahead of the 2022 World Cup, with the City star wearing a t-shirt inspired by the youngster.

 Jack Grealish and some of his Manchester City team-mates visited a local hospital to provide some Christmas cheer 

The campaign has raised more than £200,000 towards community projects for young people in Greater Manchester

John Stones was also on hand to pay a visit to patients as part of City’s ‘Greatest Season of All’ Christmas campaign

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His friendship with Finlay led him to dedicating a celebration to the youngster, when they met up ahead of the World Cup last winter. 

‘The celebration was natural, I don’t do that for any clout,’ Grealish said last year.

‘I do that because that’s what I feel I’m good at sometimes. I can relate to it.

‘It’s nice for him because he’ll go back to school and he’ll probably be quite popular.

‘That’s just the way I’ve been brought up. I’ve got a good heart, or I think I have.

‘With my little sister, she’s been to the games but she’s never been able to see me or anything because she’s visually impaired.

‘Obviously it’s nice to go and spend time with them after the games because she gets it but she obviously can’t watch the game.

‘So she just sits on her iPad, she’s addicted to Coronation Street, so she watches Coronation Street from 1998!’

Stones posed for photos with patients at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital in Manchester, also delivering gifts

Grealish met with 12-year-old Manchester City fan Finlay prior to the World Cup commencing

He then dedicated his goal against Iran to Finlay by performing a celebration they discussed

England star Jack Grealish has been praised for taking time to speak to a fan post-match

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Fisher got in touch with Grealish last year, with the pair exchanging letters after the youngster described him as his ‘idol’.

Reading the letter aloud, the Manchester City player read: ‘To Jack, My name is Finlay and I am 11 years old. I am a huge Man City fan and England Fan. I have cerebral palsy and I saw that your sister has cerebral palsy too.

‘I love the way you are really good with her, you really get it. You always have her there with you and look really proud, especially when we won the league.’

Talking to the camera, Jack then explained: ‘I’m so close with my little sister. Hollie is 19 now, she was born three months premature. 

Players donated gift bags and blankets to children from the Treble winners in their visit – and enjoyed some table football

Some patients were overwhelmed by seeing their heroes but were made up by the surprise

‘They said that she wouldn’t be able to talk, she wouldn’t be able to walk, and do a lot of stuff but here we are and she can do everything.’ 

He was also hailed as ‘humble’ after his interactions with journalism student Jack Horn, a Man United fan, about City’s 3-0 win over the Red Devils in the Manchester derby in October.

Grealish’s side are in Belgrade for a Champions League dead rubber against Red Star on Wednesday evening and host Crystal Palace at the weekend before jetting off for the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia.

City do not find out their semi-final opponents until later in the week and kick off their tournament next Tuesday.

City also gave £10,000 to local foodbanks, funding three thousand food parcels amid their latest visit to the hospital

While some players have visited multiple times in their City careers, it was a first visit for summer signing Jeremy Doku

City mascots also got involved in the table football, with the squad set to jet off to the Middle East after this weekend’s game against Crystal Palace

Stones admitted that Manchester City must tighten up defensively if they want to win the Club World Cup next week

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