Club lifts ban on Bannan

(GETTY IMAGES)

Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan has returned to training following the club suspension imposed after he was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving. The club's manager, Alex McLeish, confirmed yesterday that Villa's internal investigation into the allegations against Bannan had been put on hold.

The club intend to wait for police to complete their inquiry into a motorway crash which involved Bannan and the Shrewsbury striker James Collins, a former Villa player, in the early hours of Sunday 23 October. The 21-year-old was suspended by Villa two days after his arrest.

McLeish said: "Barry Bannan returned to training today. The club has suspended internal inquiries into allegations which arose a couple of weeks ago, pending the outcome of police inquiries."