The 10-year-old football fanatic, who has cerebral palsy, has been chosen for Durham FA's Centre of Excellence for children with learning and physical disabilities – meaning he is only one step away from club football.

Josh's brother Jake is already playing for Sunderland, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough football clubs' academies for gifted players – and he is only six.

"I'm very, very proud," said dad Mark, 38, manager of Josh and Jake's teams – SAFC Foundation under-11s reds and under-eights reds

"The good thing about both brothers is they always want to be at each others' games.

"Josh was in hospital at the weekend and he asked if he could be discharged early so he could catch the back end of Jake's game."

Scouts use FA centre of excellences to search for players for the England team and Josh is hoping he will be selected.

If so, Mark and wife Deborah, 38, who works as a hairdresser at Fusion Hair Studio in Sunderland, could be watching Josh compete in the 2016 Paralympics.

The youngster was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was six-months-old after his mam and dad noticed he was reluctant to use his left side.

Medics told the family Josh was unlikely to ever walk, but he did – and started playing football as soon as he took his first steps.

Mark, of Maling Park, South Hylton, said: "Doctors painted as bleak a picture as you could get, but Josh is so determined. He deals with everything put in front of him."

The condition mainly affects Josh's left arm and he needs botox injections twice a year to spur on muscle growth.

Josh plays mainstream football in the Russell Foster League and has just been chosen for the team at St Anne's Primary School, Pennywell.