The 17-year-old was found unconscious and badly injured in the Laganbank Road area of the city almost two weeks ago and remains in a coma in hospital.

Scott was reported missing after he failed to return home from college and officers have since been trying to trace his movements on the day of the attack and piece together what happened.

"We know you are a loyal and passionate West Ham fan," the football club said, in a message on a Facebook page created for the teenager.

"Not only do you have your family and friends, but the thoughts of everyone here at West Ham United are with you."

The message has been read to Scott by his mum as he fights for his life.

We wanted you to know you are not going through this time alone.

West Ham

On Thursday, police revealed a new witness had told them about seeing the teenager in Market Square at around teatime on Friday 7 September - just four hours before he was found badly beaten.

Chief Inspector Darrin Jones said: "In the past 24 hours we have confirmed a sighting of Scott in the city centre/Market Square area early in the evening of Friday 7 September.

"This is significant for us because it allows us to narrow down the window in which the assault on Scott took place from almost 30 hours to around four hours.

"However that significant block of time remains unaccounted for so we still really need to know where Scott was during those 30 hours so we can establish a definitive timeline for his movements and find out who he was with and where."

The new information comes as police returned to the area where Scott was discovered, close to the Lagan towpath, to hand out leaflets and speak to motorists and pedestrians.

Meanwhile, an update from the Vineers has been released through the PSNI Lisburn Facebook page and said Scott is showing signs of recovery.

"His head is still very swollen at the back due to his skull fracture. He does seem to respond when we speak to him by pushing our hand slightly!!" wrote Helen Louise Vineer.

"Myself and Paul are with him every day and evening and see small improvements every day."

Scott is doing really well! They have stopped the sedation and he is starting to come round! His eyes are half open but it is very early days.

Helen Louise Vineer

Judith Fynney, whose six-year-old son is autistic, was horrified to hear of the attack and set up the Justice for Scott Vineer facebook page for people to send their messages to the injured teen.

"I could not begin to imagine what Helen must be going through. It's just your worst nightmare as a parent," she told UTV.

The page has more than 4,300 members from across Northern Ireland, and further afield.

"We are getting messages from people as far away as Brazil, Australia, America, just lovely messages with their prayers for Scott and their coming in everyday and Helen is actually cutting these out and keeping them to do a scrapbook for Scott. Helen is reading them out to Scott in the hope that he can hear them.

"It's keeping Helen's spirits up and showing Helen that there's good people in Northern Ireland who care about her son," she explained.

A 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the attack on 'gentle giant' Scott and has since been released on bail.

Inspector Jones said police revisited the scene on Thursday in an attempt to jog the memories of anyone who may have important details about the attack.