The father of Damary Dawkins has thanked Manchester City attacker Raheem Sterling for the tribute to his late son.

Crystal Palace trainee Dawkins passed away on Sunday from leukaemia after he relapsed twice following a stem cell transplant shortly before Christmas.

Dad Tony Dawkins told the Press Association: "It was a pleasant surprise.

"I knew that they used to speak because (Sterling) came down to the hospital, they played pool together and apparently they swapped numbers.

"I remember when Crystal Palace played Manchester City and they lost Damary put on his tracksuit with the Crystal Palace badge and took a picture to send to Raheem. They had banter with each other.

"It was very, very touching and fitting. I know Damary touched his heart."