Newcastle United's Jonas Gutierrez diagnosed with testicular cancer

Jonas Gutierrez playing for Newcastle United

Newcastle United midfielder Jonas Gutierrez has been diagnosed with testicular cancer, the player revealed.

The 31-year-old hasn't played since April this year after being loaned out to Norwich in January.

The Argentine has been undergoing chemotherapy in his home country for the past month and tweeted the following:

Gracias por todos los mensajes de apoyo. Mirando siempre para adelante. Thanks for all the messages. Always looking fordward.

— jonas gutierrez (@elgalgojonas) September 16, 2014

Jonas joined Newcastle from Spanish club Mallorca in July 2008. He got his nickname "Spider-Man" during his time in Spain, where he made a habit of celebrating goals by putting on a Spider-Man mask. He continued that habit in England but often ended up getting booked for it.

Jonas Gutierrez with his trademark Spiderman celebration

"When I confirmed that I had cancer I went home crying. This was the most difficult game I had to play.

"I detected a tumour in a testicle. I came here [Argentina] and I assumed the costs, despite having a contract with Newcastle. Money is not important. What is important is health and I had to start chemotherapy.

"I removed the left testicle. I returned to England and Newcastle told me to leave. It was hard to find my hair falling out. I did not want to cut it. I wanted to hold on. Fighting cancer makes the rest of the problems insignificant.

"I decided to tell my story because maybe it will help people who have cancer."

Gutierrez’s last match was on April 5 this year for Norwich in a 1-0 home defeat by West Brom. He also played for Argentina at the 2010 World Cup as a right-back due to the presence of Messi and Maxi Rodriguez.

Testicular cancer generally occurs in males from the ages of 15 to 49 and is generally rare accounting for only 1% of cancers that the male population suffers from. It has been treated in 96% of the cases when detected early.