Manchester United players visit dying grandfather to grant final wish 45 minutes before he passed away

73-year-old Paddy Lawler was visited by Ashley Young, Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford and Timothy Fosu-Mensah after asking his family to meet the United players before he died

Ashley Young, Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford and Timothy Fosu-Mensah visited Paddy Lawler on Wednesday (Facebook/Kayleigh Lawler Carson)

Four Manchester United players visited a lifelong fan to grant his last wish, just 45 minutes before he died from cancer.

73-year-old Paddy Lawler asked his family for his dying wish to be the chance to meet members of the United squad, having supported the club throughout his life. Mr Lawler’s granddaughter, Kayleigh, issued a plea on Facebook on Sunday for anyone to help get in touch with the club in order for his wish to be granted, with the post receiving more than 1,000 shares.

The power of social media meant that the post was spotted by the cousin on United winger Jesse Lingard, and he visited Mr Lawler three days’ later along with teammates Marcus Rashford, Ashley Young and Timothy Fosu-Mensah in order to fulfil hus dying wish.

Sadly, less than an hour after the United players departed , Mr Lawler passed away on Tuesday after suffering from prostate cancer.

The players visited Mr Lawler in his home in Wythenshawe, Manchester, where he was wearing a United home shirt as well has having one framed above his bed. The four also signed memorobilia for the rest of the family while spending time at Mr Lawler’s bedside.

Ashley Young is pictured next to Mr Lawler (Twitter)

Jesse Lingard took the time to sign United memorabilia for Mr Lawler's family (Twitter)

Kayleigh, 27, took to Facebook again to praise the “incredibly selfless” gesture by the quartet.

"Top lads, all four of them. Thanks so much to everyone who helped. Sure my grandad's over the moon."

Her original post read: "Please can everyone share I'm trying to get a few of Manchester United players to come and visit my grandad we asked him the other day if he would like to do anything before his time comes and he said to meet the team I've emailed the Mufc foundation but no reply yet!

"And not sure how long we have left with him so I want to get this as a surprise he's a MASSIVE fan even tried his hardest to keep his eyes open yesterday to watch the match but sadly he missed it!

"I know he will be so gutted that he didn't watch it I'm sure he will be a very happy man If I can get his last wish

"Thankyou to u all Xxx"