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Ipswich Town player Wes Burns sends a video message to proud parents Shaquille and Kieran Margetson.

A close-up of a baby. He is sleeping and has a clear tube coming out of his nose. He has a cream dummy in his mouth. — Wesley spent more than 100 days in hospital after being born early [Supplied]

A footballer says he feels honoured after a couple who endured two miscarriages named their premature baby after him.

Wesley spent 109 days in the neonatal unit at Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital after being delivered at 25 weeks at Ipswich Hospital in April.

Shaquille and Kieran Margetson named their newborn, who weighed 1lb 16oz (800g), after Ipswich Town's Wes Burns, inspired by a goal the winger scored.

The player has now sent a personal video message to the couple, who are from Stowmarket, wishing them all well.

"It is an incredible story and I am really pleased that baby Wesley is doing well and I am honoured you named him after myself," the 30-year-old said.

"Everyone at Ipswich Town wishes you all the best and we send you all our love."

The personal video message has more than pleased Mr Margetson, who has a season ticket at Portman Road.

"It's so nice for Wes to do something like that and acknowledge our story," he said.

"It makes it more meaningful being a supporter when they give their time for little things like this.

"Thanks to Wes and the club. I did joke to say that I'd take him in the carrier to a game, but maybe not quite yet."

A man and a woman sitting on a sofa. The man is holding a baby. The couple are both looking into the camera. — Kieran and Shaquille Margetson said the name Wesley had gone down well [Alex Dunlop/BBC]

The 39-year-old decided Wesley would be a fitting name after seeing the footballer score against Plymouth Argyle in January 2023 just moments before his wife texted him to say she was pregnant.

"I just came home and joked if we had a boy we would have to call it Wesley because Wes Burns was the scorer on the day," he said.

Mrs Margetson later miscarried, but the idea for the name stuck.

"It was a running joke throughout, and then when this one made an appearance we just looked at each other and said 'Yeah, that's what we will call him'.

"Everyone seems to have taken to the name and said how nice it is."

Before Wesley's arrival on 23 April, Mr and Mrs Margetson had experienced two miscarriages so they were concerned he might not survive.

After he was delivered via C-section he was transferred to the neonatal unit with his parents having to wait a couple of days before they could hold him.

"He was the size of three of my knuckles and, yes, [I was worried] he might not make it... it was all a bit of a complete blur," said Mrs Margetson, 32, who is a carer.