Jermain Defoe posts touching Bradley Lowery tribute as Rangers striker honours pal on ninth birthday

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Rangers striker Jermain Defoe has posted a heartfelt tribute to best friend Bradley Lowery on what would have been his ninth birthday.

Defoe became pals with the youngster while playing for Sunderland between 2015 and 2017. Lowery, an avid Black Cats fan, was battling cancer at the time and sadly passed away in July 2017, aged six.

He was awarded the Match of the Day Goal of the Month for a pre-match penalty against Chelsea 's Asmir Begovic earlier that year.

Defoe led Lowery out onto the pitch at Sunderland and England games and even comforted him in hospital.After his passing, he honoured Lowery with a post on social media, calling him his "best friend".And on what should have been a day of celebration for the inspirational boy, Defoe