After a stellar 2017-18 A-League campaign, Newcastle Jet rising star Johnny Koutroumbis had the world at his feet.

His second season as a professional saw him score his first ever goals helping Newcastle to of their best A-League campaigns culminating in a home Grand Final against Melbourne Victory.

However, on the eve of the 2018 -19 A-League season the 20-year-old found a lump in his neck and was side-lined indefinitely after he was diagnosed with Stage 1 thyroid cancer.

Only six weeks after surgery Koutroumbis was given the all clear to return to the Jets and the 20-year-old believes his faith is a major reason why he has recovered so quickly.

“I’m a big believer in God, I’m Greek Orthodox due to being raised like that,” he told Neos Kosmos.

“I felt like it was a godsend that the lump did form instead of not forming which could’ve ended up being worse. So the doctors caught it early because the lump formed. That’s why I say it’s a godsend because that type of cancer doesn’t always show up as a lump.”

Koutroumbis says being back in training with his Newcastle Jets teammates over the last month has helped him move forward.

“They were a really big help in the recovery process and at the same time on the mental side as well,” he revealed. “I had Lawrie McKinna (Newcastle Jets CEO) come in twice to see me at hospital as well as the players and the staff.

“I don’t like to be side lined. It’s pretty frustrating even when I am injured. But you’ve got to have that mental strength to think you can come back stronger. That this is just a small hurdle in life that you can overcome and you have to get back out there.”

Koutroumbis’ family is based in Adelaide and he revealed that their support was also important during the initial stages of his diagnosis.

“A few days before the surgery and all the way throughout until I got home from hospital my mum and dad where there,” he says.

“So they took time off work to came up to Newcastle and two days after I got out of the hospital my girlfriend came up.

“They helped throughout the whole experience, bringing me food and my clothes. Basically helping me when I was down. They were very supportive and they helped get me back on my feet quickly.”

After going through a health scare like that Koutroumbis says he has a new outlook on life.

“You try and not to take life for granted,” he says.

“I sat in the hospital for a good week and a half and started to think about people that have conditions and disabilities that are much more severe and worse than what I have.

“Because I’m so young I’ve got my whole life ahead of me. You can’t just live in the past, so you have to move on from these things”