Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish is the latest Premier League footballer to have pictures apparently showing him taking nitrous oxide published in The Sun newspaper.
Grealish, 19, was pictured in a hotel room inhaling the gas -- described as a legal high -- through a balloon "around six months ago," the paper reports.
Thursday's Sun back page High Jack #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/QFmyVxXbaL
- Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) April 22, 2015
The pictures have followed recent stories of a similar nature involving Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling and West Bromwich Albion striker Saido Berahino, both England internationals.
Grealish gained wider attention after his stand-out performance in Sunday's FA Cup semifinal win over Liverpool at Wembley, in what was only his fifth start for the club.
The former Villa trainee has represented Republic of Ireland at youth level, but is also reported to have attracted interest from England manager Roy Hodgson.
Nitrous oxide, known commonly as "laughing gas" is not illegal, but is described by UK Government-backed anti-drugs service Frank as carrying "a risk of death as a lack of oxygen can occur... This risk is likely to be greater if the gas is consumed in an enclosed space or if a substantial amount is rapidly used."
We bring you the footie star hippy crack hall of shame http://t.co/mnbH2sioW7 pic.twitter.com/yhNJfOW8UE
- The Sun Sportdesk (@SunSportdesk) April 23, 2015
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said last week that he has spoken to Sterling about the stories involving his supposed use of the gas, as well as another picture which emerged of him smoking what appeared to be a shisha pipe with teammate Jordan Ibe.
"It is [about] perspective as well. If you look at Raheem he didn't do anything illegal," Rodgers told reporters. "It was something he will look back on in years to come and it probably wasn't the wisest thing to do.
"But for me, it is all about the welfare of the two young players; making them aware of the health issues which come with that and also about the professionalism and what they are representing."