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Former Arsenal, West Ham and Celtic star John Hartson has been diagnosed with brain cancer.

The ex-Wales striker went to Swansea's Single hospital on Friday after suffering from splitting headaches, and tests revealed testicular cancer that had spread to the brain.

The 34-year-old will begin chemotherapy on Monday.

"Mr Hartson attended Singleton Hospital on Friday displaying symptoms consistent with testicular cancer," said Gianfilippo Bertelli, a consultant medical oncologist from the Swansea hospital.

"A number of clinical tests were put in place and these have confirmed the presence of testicular cancer. Unfortunately, it has also been confirmed that this cancer has spread to Mr Hartson's brain.

"We will be commencing a course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy as soon as possible and foresee many months of treatment."

Hartson's former club Celtic offered their support to the man who represented the club 146 times between 2001 and 2006.

"John Hartson is a man whom Celtic Football Club has immense respect and affection for," the club said in a statement.

"He has served the club, and the game of football in general, with distinction over many years.

"Clearly, everyone at the club fully supports John and his family at this extremely difficult time. It is very difficult for us to understand what John is going through at the moment but we will offer any support we can to a great Celtic player. The thoughts and prayers of the entire Celtic family are with John at this time."

A friend of Hartson's explained to The Sun how the cancer had been discovered.

"John had complained of really bad headaches recently," he said.

"It reached the stage where he felt something was seriously wrong.

"It's devastating news for John and his family. His father is at his bedside and worried sick. But the doctors are upbeat about his prospects and chemotherapy will begin right away. John is a big, strong man.

"Throughout his career he was a battler - he'll fight this with everything he's got."

Hartson was the most expensive teenager in British history when he joined Arsenal from Luton for £2.5 million in 1995.

His most successful spell at club level came with Celtic, whom he joined for £6m in 2001. He scored 88 SPL goals in five seasons and won the 2005 Player of the Year award.

He scored 14 goals in 51 appearances for his country.

Eurosport