Carlisle United head coach Chris Beech says the club will do anything it can to help former Blues youth team player Danny Hodgson, who is critically ill in Australia.

The 25-year-old footballer is in an induced coma after being the victim of an unprovoked attack.

A major online fundraising campaign has raised a six-figure sum to help with his recovery, while Danny’s parents are travelling to Perth to be at his hospital bedside after their plea for help with flights received a huge response.

Danny was a talented junior footballer with Windscale and Cleator Moor Celtic in west Cumbria and was a promising youth player with Carlisle United before heading Down Under aged 18.

Beech said he had every sympathy with Danny and his family and said the Blues wish them well.

“I can only give them my support and best wishes,” he said.

“If they do need support we won’t turn down any avenues of helping out or doing things for people in that kind of unfortunate position.

“I don’t know too many of the details but what I do know is I feel for them and this football club will definitely support them.”

Beech referred to his own experience of going through tough personal times with his teenage son Brandon, who has cystic fibrosis.

He added: “From my own personal experiences in my private life with Brandon, and being on a donor list waiting for my son to get a liver, or having 10-12 hour operations and things like that, as a parent…I feel for the family and I hope it all goes well.

“It doesn’t half put a lot of things into perspective. For me family is the most important thing, so they get our complete support.”

A remarkable show of support has been given to the footballer, with a GoFundMe page set up by friend Steven Burton raising more than $100,000 in less than 24 hours.

A separate GoFundMe account, launched by Danny’s football club ECU Joondalup, is also raising money to support the young Cumbrian.

His parents Nicola and Peter are flying to be with Danny at Royal Perth Hospital, having on Wednesday launched a desperate plea for help with plane tickets, due to the limited number of international flights entering Western Australia under current restrictions..

Their appeal brought a big response in Cumbria, nationally and Down Under and Nicola, updating a Facebook post that went viral this week, wrote: “It’s incredible that in 24 hours we have been able to achieve the impossible. I cannot thank everyone enough who has been involved. Our prayers have been answered and we have confirmed flights to Australia.

“Danny still has a long journey ahead of him but the fact that me and Peter will be by his side through it gives us enormous comfort. It’s the most emotional experience I’ve ever had. One act of violence has spurred thousands of acts of kindness and for that we will be eternally grateful.”

The fundraising will support Danny’s recovery, and has received four-figure donations from footballers including west Cumbrian Manchester United star Dean Henderson, England striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Cleator Moor’s Manchester City keeper Scott Carson.

Danny was allegedly struck from behind at a Perth train station and knocked unconscious last Saturday.

He was taken to hospital for emergency surgery for head injuries and, after suffering brain haemorrhaging, was put in an induced coma.

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with grievous bodily harm and is due to appear in Perth Children’s Court on September 22.

ECU Joondalup coach Kenny Lowe, the former Barrow AFC and Carlisle United player, said: “Danny is a great player and a great bloke who is extremely popular with his teammates.

“We are wrapping our arms around him, his girlfriend Jess and their families and giving them as much strength and support as we can.”