David De Gea and other Manchester United stars met with Perth footballer Danny Hodgson, whose life was changed forever after he was the victim of an unprovoked assault.
Hodgson was left with a catastrophic brain injury in September last year, after being punched to the ground by a teenager – who was later jailed for three years and eight months for the attack in Perth.
After being placed in an induced coma and spending six months in hospital, Hodgson remains in a wheelchair but is making good progress with his rehabilitation and learning to walk again.
Hodgson, originally from Carlisle, played in the same youth team as United goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who has joined Nottingham Forest on loan, until the pair were 15.
United supporter Hodgson was playing for Perth RedStar FC, a semi-professional club based in the city, when he was attacked.
Hodgson was invited to United training by the club and after the session at the WACA, De Gea came over to meet him and chat with him and his family, including mum Nicola and girlfriend Jessica.
The Perth branch of the United supporter's association held a fundraiser for Hodgson in the city on Thursday, which included signed shirts from Cristiano Ronaldo and Juan Mata.
United have been supportive of Hodgson, with club legend Bryan Robson set to be at the fundraiser, which is already more than halfway towards its target of ten thousand Australian dollars. All the proceeds raised will go towards Hodgson and his family.
Stuart Darwell, vice-chairman of the Perth branch of the United supporters' association, said: “We knew Danny was a United supporter, and when we learned United were coming to Perth, we thought we should try to do something for him.
“In three days we raised five thousand dollars, all for Danny, and we have lots of signed United merchandise to help us raise even more to help him and his family. No-one should have to deal with what they have had to go through.”
After training in the rain in front of 5,000 fans at the WACA on Thursday morning, United's players took a trip to Perth Zoo in the afternoon, although some were concerned at the prospect of rain.
United's arrival in Perth on Wednesday was delayed after a plane landed in front of their aircraft, citing a medical emergency. United's plane, carrying the entire squad and staff, was delayed by 45 minutes on the tarmac in Melbourne, before they were allowed to take off for Perth.
Unlike in Bangkok, where fans were allowed inside the hotel where United were staying, supporters have been kept outside of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Perth, where the squad are based until Saturday.
Despite heavy rain in Perth on Thursday, a determined group of around 100 fans camped outside the five-star hotel, hoping for a glimpse of their heroes.
Those on United’s pre-season tour have noted Erik ten Hag’s attention to detail and laser-like focus. That was never more evident than at United’s open training session at the WACA, when Ten Hag paced out the distance between the cones laid out, to ensure they were correctly spaced out for the training session ahead.
