Jose Mourinho has hailed Manchester United youngster Max Taylor after his recovery from cancer.
The 19-year-old was on the substitutes' bench for United in midweek just 14 months after he had been diagnosed with testicular cancer.
Taylor signed professional terms with the club in January 2018 but seven months later his world was turned upside down when a cyst on his testicle returned bigger.
The defender's left testicle was removed on October 4 and a biopsy showed it to be the primary cancer, but a CT scan showed it had "spread through the abdomen, the lymph nodes in the abdomen and started a few specks on the lungs".
An intense, draining nine-week course of chemotherapy followed, with a single day involving as much as eight hours of chemo and four hours of hydration.
That demanding treatment got rid of the cancer, but more surgery was required to remove swollen lymph nodes: three on his left side and three next to the aorta - including one that had gone onto the main artery carrying blood from the heart.
Mourinho was United manager at the time of Taylor's diagnosis and the Portuguese has spoken about how it affected everyone at the club.
"It was a big shock for everybody at the club at the time. Very sweet kid and a fantastic young professional," the new Tottenham coach said.
"The first one to motivate everyone at United was him. He was the one that motivated all of us.
"Lots of people, including myself, had to hide tears when we knew. He was the one that was ready for the fight.
"It's amazing news for the club and for everyone connected to him. He has already won the biggest match of his career.
"It's an amazing story and an inspiration for young people."
