Teen stabbed in attempted Sydney robbery

A 16-year-old boy has been stabbed in the cheek by a man after refusing his demands for cigarettes and money at a western Sydney park.

The boy entered a park in Wentworthville about 3.30pm on Tuesday when he became uneasy and tried to return to the main road, but he was confronted by a man.

When he refused, the man stabbed him in the cheek and then punched the boy, but the teen fought back and ran off as the man tried to stab him again.

The teenager contacted triple zero and police established a perimeter and a crime scene.

The injured boy was taken to Westmead Hospital in a stable condition while local police were assisted by POLAIR and a K9 Unit but failed to find the man.

Police have appealed for public help to find a man of Middle Eastern appearance, about 183cm tall with three gold teeth, a bald head and full black beard.

He was shirtless with tattoos on his chest and left hand, white 'Adidas' track-pants and no shoes.