Football-mad Martell Osman has scored the job of a lifetime rubbing shoulders with the England stars at the World Cup.

He will join other Oxfordshire youngsters, Christopher West, seven, and Lewis Harding, six, as player escorts at next month's finals in Germany after winning a contest run by McDonald's.

They were chosen from more than 50,000 entrants.

Martell, nine, was nominated by his sister Atlanta, 10, because she said he was so nice to her after she had a heart transplant as a baby.

In an interesting twist of fate, he will be going to the country which provided the life-saving heart for her operation.

The New Marston Primary School pupils lives on the Northway estate at Headington, Oxford.

Martell, who plays for Northway Boys, will walk out on to the pitch hand-in-hand with his football heroes in England's opening game against Paraguay on Saturday, June 10. He said: "It was amazing when I found out. My friends think I am really lucky."

He is most looking forward to meeting his hero Liverpool player, Steven Gerrard.

Atlanta said she nominated Martell because he was a good brother, adding: "I did it because I love him and my heart comes from Germany."

She will be watching Martell on television with proud mother Rebecca, who said: "I was gobsmacked when I found out. I couldn't believe it."

She said Martell had taken the news in his stride, but added: "I think when he gets on the plane, it will hit home".

Christopher, from Didcot, will be leading out the team against Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday, June 15, and Lewis, from Cholsey, Wallingford, will be a player escort for the game against Sweden on Tuesday, June 20.

The boys will kickstart their brush with fame today when they meet 1966 World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst at a special event in Oxford.

Sir Geoff said: "There is nothing bigger than the World Cup and I know from experience that the boys' memories of leading out the players will live with them forever."