Young footballer labelled 'incredible inspiration' as he faces cancer battle

Jake Last was playing as a goalkeeper for Burnley FC's under 14s academy team in 2022 when he complained of pain in his right knee. Tests led to him being diagnosed with osteosarcoma cancer, a type of bone cancer, in March 2022. Jake, 15, underwent 16 weeks of chemotherapy at Manchester Children's Hospital before having surgery in Birmingham to replace his knee, tibia and femur with titanium implants. He then needed 14 more weeks of chemotherapy back at Manchester Children's Hospital to "mop up" remaining cancerous cells, and in May last year, Jake rang the bell as there was no sign of the cancer in his body.