Jermain Defoe will forever carry the "special feeling" of his close bond with Bradley Lowery as the veteran England forward prepares to make his Premier League debut for Bournemouth.
Bradley, the football mascot whose beaming smile touched thousands of people around the world, died last month aged six following his battle with a rare cancer.
Defoe had struck up a close bond with Bradley during his time playing at Sunderland, having since left on a free transfer in the summer following relegation from the Premier League.
The 34-year-old was among the mourners at Bradley's funeral held in his home village of Blackhall, County Durham, where thousands of people wearing football shirts had lined the streets, and remains in contact with the family.