WATCH: The heartwarming moment a young Utd fan is told he will walk onto the pitch with his idols

Video footage has captured the heartwarming moment John Preston, 11, is told he will walk out onto the pitch with his Manchester United idols as a mascot.

The young fan's priceless reaction was caught on his dad's camera just moments before the Legends game on Saturday afternoon.

The youngster can't quite believe what he's being told and keeps asking his equally excited dad, also called John, ‘are you joking?’

Footage then shows the excited fan walking out of the tunnel at Old Trafford with Barcelona’s goalkeeper, Jesús Mariano Angoy Gil.

Even being watched by thousands of people, he still managed a wave to his proud dad in the stands.

This is the first game the pair have been able to get to together so dad, John, wanted to make sure it was one to remember.

The reason for the unexpected treat was because the youngster’s older sister, Aimee, 12, is disabled and has Rett syndrome - a neurological condition which means she can’t walk or talk - so he doesn’t get to do a lot of the usual things children do.

John, 45, of Cheadle Hulme, said:

Russell Feingold, head of fundraising at the Manchester United Foundation said:

Manchester United Foundation uses football to engage and inspire young people to build a better life for themselves and unite the communities in which they live.

Dedicated staff deliver football coaching, educational programmes and personal development, providing young people with opportunities to change their lives for the better.