POORLY Andover soccer fan Shane Jones will see his heroes Man-chester United play at Southampton tomorrow - thanks to the doctors and nurses who have been looking after him.

Shane, aged 11, suffers from various ailments including cystic fibrosis and diabetes. He has had a terrible year in and out of hospital.

So doctors and nurses at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital decided to arrange a special treat for him to see the Man United team of Van Nistelrooy, Beckham and co at the Friends Provident St Mary's Stadium tomorrow.

They have arranged for tickets so that Shane and his dad Gary - also a United fan and manager of New Street thirds - can see the Red Devils take on the Saints.

And they are hoping to organise a limo to pick him up at his home in Camelot Close, Andover, to take him down to the ground.

Shane is really looking forward to the game.

"I like Nistelrooy best because he scores lots of goals," he said. But he added: "I like Beckham too."

He met most of the Southampton team when they toured the wards at Christmas time.

"One of the nurses told Wayne Bridge that I was a Saints fan but I said I supported Manchester United and showed them my new top," said Shane.

"He just laughed."

He saw Man United play once before when he and his dad travelled to Fulham.

Shane also suffers from asthma and eczema and life has been difficult.

His mum, Tracey, said Shane has had two operations in the last year including a gastrostomy - an artificial opening through the abdominal wall through which a feeding tube can be passed. It's enabled him to feed at night so that he can build up weight to help him fight infections.

He was due to have the operation last January but it had to be cancelled because on the day it was scheduled for it was discovered he had diabetes.

The discovery has caused dietary problems because diabetes demands a different kind of diet from that required for cystic fibrosis.

Dr Maria Sollis at the hospital said: "It's been a really difficult year for Shane and we knew he was a fan of Manchester United.

Southampton Football Club have been fantastic and provided tickets for him to go and see the match."