YOUTH footballers took part in a once in a lifetime opportunity to train alongside a Premier League star.

Brierfield Celtic Youth FC members got the chance to play on the same pitch as Manchester City's ace Kevin De Bruyne.

Winning a nation-wide competition, Club Together, organised by Topps, which produces collectible football cards, the team were also given football kits and shirts.

The club won the competition after collecting more than 2,700 Match Attax Extra football trading cards.

The youngsters got to show off their own skills to the midfielder, 26, who has almost 50 international caps for Belgium.

The children had their pictures taken and were able to ask the athlete questions about football and being a celebrity.

Qaiser Mehdi, the youth club's coach, said: "Every young football fan at one point in their life dreams of becoming a professional footballer.

"It was heart-warming today to see the kids hanging on De Bruyne's every word. "Days like today are great for boosting morale and showing these avid football card collectors that anything is possible."

De Bruyne is not the first high-profile Belgian footballer to grace East Lancashire.

Midfielder Steven Defour has just started his second season in the Premier League with Burnley FC.

Rod Pearson from Topps said: "Club Together is a fantastic initiative that Topps have run for several years now.

"We are dedicated to giving budding football players and collectors alike the chance to benefit from our support and strong partnerships with the Premier League and international players.

"It continues to grow year after year and it is our way of saying thank you to our loyal Match Attax fans and supporting opportunities in grass roots football."