Gabriel Agbonlahor suspended by Aston Villa after being pictured with shisha pipe and champagne in Dubai

Agbonlahor has played 18 times this season but has returned just one goal

Gabriel Agbonlahor has been suspended by Aston Villa (Getty Images)

Aston Villa have confirmed that striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has been suspended with immediate effect after a picture appeared of him holding a shisha pipe during a recent trip to Dubai.

The club confirmed the news on Friday morning before interim first team coach Eric Black’s press conference, with the forward facing an internal investigation. Agbonlahor travelled to Dubai during the international break, where he was pictured inhaling from what appeared to be a shisha pipe.

The former England striker was also seen drinking champagne, and with Villa performing so woefully in the Premier League this season with relegation almost a certainty, fans will not be pleased to see a member of the playing squad drinking and smoking a shisha pipe.

The club’s official Twitter account confirmed the news, posting: “Gabby Agbonlahor will not be involved in Saturday’s early afternoon clash with @ChelseaFC.

“An internal investigation is currently underway. While this is being conducted, Gabby Agbonlahor will not feature.”

Agbonlahor has made 18 appearances this season, with all but three coming in the Premier League, but a return of just one goal has not helped Villa’s cause and he was dropped to the bench for Remi Garde’s final match in charge in the 1-0 defeat by Swansea before the international break.

The news comes days after manager Garde was sacked, having lasted just four months in the job after replacing Tim Sherwood. Villa will go into the Saturday lunchtime kick-off with Chelsea without a replacement confirmed, despite being linked with former Manchester United manager David Moyes and ex-Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson.