Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko has come to the rescue of a young fan.

The Daily Star says the striker has secretly donated £20,000 to save a 17-year-old's life in his native Bosnia-Herzegovina.

And Alen Maslo, who suffers from a rare bone marrow disease, will be forever thankful for the former Wolfsburg ace's generosity.

The lad's family were called by Dzeko's sister after an appeal for help on a local TV news channel in Sarajevo.

The report said that Alen's only hope was specialist treatment in Germany, which the City star put his hand in his pocket to fund.

"It was amazingly generous. Alen now has a chance to recover if we get him to the specialist surgery in Germany," said one family member.

Alen's brother Almin was also full of praise for the 26-year-old.

"We have high hopes for the surgery and treatment. We are so thankful to Edin Dzeko that this has been made possible.

"We hope the treatment will be a success - and Alen can resume a normal life."

The star has also promised he will take part in a charity match in Sarajevo, which will be dedicated to Alen.