Former England manager Sir Bobby Robson is to undergo brain surgery to remove a brain tumour.
The 73-year-old was taken ill while watching Ipswich Town two weeks ago and was suspected to have suffered a stroke.
Extensive tests carried out since have revealed a "very small tumour", believed to be the size of a grape, which will be removed on Wednesday. He is expected to make a full recovery.
Sir Bobby said: "I had a scan to assess why I felt unwell and had to leave the game at Ipswich early, and the doctors discovered a small, operable tumour that caused an affliction on the left side of my face.
"On Wednesday I will have an operation to remove the tumour and, as surgeons tell me the rest of my body is clean, I should be able to make a full recovery. The tumour is in my brain, which sounds bad, but it is in a position where it can be removed easily and it's extremely small - the size of a grape - which indicates they have caught it early.
"Apart from the funny turn at the match I have felt great, so it's a bit annoying that I have to go into hospital again.
"Having successfully fought cancer three times, I am confident of getting through this as well."
The Co Durham-born footballing statesman, who played for West Bromwich Albion and went on to manage his boyhood heroes Newcastle United, had a golf ball-sized tumour removed from a lung in May. In 1995 he was discovered to have a rare form of skin cancer behind an eye, and underwent complex surgery which left him needing a rubber plug in his mouth. Three years before that he survived bowel cancer.
Sir Bobby, currently an international consultant for the Republic of Ireland, took England to the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup. He went on to manage with great success across Europe, before ending his club career at Newcastle United.
