Jesse Lingard meets adoring fan and receives panini sticker

Following yet another summer of soaring transfer fees and multi-million pound deals, it's heartwarming when footballers touch base with reality.

Some players, especially those who play for the biggest clubs in the world, are icons to the young boys and girls who are starting off by kicking balls in the street – just as they once did.

And on Monday, Jesse Lingard made one Manchester United supporter's day when he rolled down the window to his car and posed for photos, with the pair striking his now familiar JLingz pose.

But perhaps it was the young boy who made Lingard's day.

To the England forward's surprise, seven-year-old Theo, who had patiently waited for him outside United's Carrington training base, pulled out a perfectly wrapped gift to hand to his idol.

A delighted Lingard reached out for a high five as he beamed upon receiving the gift from the youngster.

The United star then donned a huge grin after unwrapping the present, which was complete with a message on the back, as he revealed a framed panini sticker from the World Cup in Russia.

'Was good to see my guy today not seen him in ages!,' Theo, who goes by 'little_tz_tekkers' on Instagram, wrote next to a series of photos.

'I promised I would keep my spare @jesselingard panini sticker for him, me and Mum made a frame for it and I got to give it him today! Think he liked it.'

Theo writes in his bio that he is a huge Manchester United fan and once played football with Lingard himself.

And the youngster wasn't just treated to photographs with his favourite player, even Anthony Martial stopped by for a quick snap, again much to Theo's delight.