Darron Gibson has been involved in a car crash in the early hours ahead of Sunderland's crucial Championship relegation clash.
The Black Cats were set to play high-flying Preston North End on Saturday afternoon in what seemed to be a must win game, and the last thing the club needed was a distraction. Unfortunately for them, Gibson provided just that with pictures emerging on social media in the early hours of Saturday morning showing the damaged caused by the midfielder.
Darron Gibson a visiblement eu un accident de voiture aujourd’hui. On apprécie moins la dernière image... pic.twitter.com/6pWoIVPPVd
— Sunderland France (@SAFCFrance) 17 March 2018
One Twitter user reported that a car had been seen speeding at 60mph in a residential area, only for his car to have been hit among another three vehicles.
Sunderland manager Chris Coleman ruled Gibson out of the game against Preston in his pre-match press conference, however these latest events won't please the manager one bit as he looks to regroup his side ahead of a tough run in to the end of the season.
Buzzing all week to go out for me to look out me window after a massive bang to see me cars been shifted 40 metres up the street after someone has been apparently doing 60 down my street and smashed into about 4 cars pic.twitter.com/2nKx2NFJC6
— Lewi (@lewigowland) 17 March 2018
This isn't the first time Gibson has been involved in a road incident, after he was handed a 20-month driving ban back in 2015 during his playing days at Everton for hitting a cyclist which driving under the influence of alcohol and then fleeing the scene.
Now almost three years later, it looks as though the 30-year-old may be in further trouble with the authorities due to a similar incident, and the Sunderland fans have not reacted well on Twitter since further pictures have emerged.
Pre-match team talk for Darron Gibson. #SAFC pic.twitter.com/nfa9qJiAOF
— Andy (@SAFCsource) 17 March 2018
Darron Gibson needs prison time. End of story!
— Neil Tyler (@Tyler_ND6) 17 March 2018
so no Darron Gibson then . . . . ?
— Mark Alden (@marka999) 17 March 2018
why's that I wonder . . . .?!?
regardless #HawayTheLads@SunderlandAFC https://t.co/zlF2Ta0tbZ
#SAFC Darron Gibson pic.twitter.com/GGtxyxV0Tr
— cheeses of nazereth (@cheesesofnaz) 17 March 2018
If Darron Gibson does get points on his license, can we use them to help us out of the relegation battle?
— John Ridley (@Ridderz86) 17 March 2018
Canny driving by Darron Gibson this morning, wonder if @SunderlandAFC know he got took away in a police car?? pic.twitter.com/9hMbYjmiOd
— Stephen Dixon (@dixon_84) 17 March 2018
See Darron Gibson’s name floating around a fair bit and initially assume he must be back earlier than I was expecting. Turns out that definitely wasn’t the reason. Life as a Sunderland fan. You can’t beat it can you #safc
— John (@Laking86) 17 March 2018
Darron Gibson clearly has a drinking problem, gets drunk and slags off the full team, now gets drunk and drives 60 in a residential area. Just sack him #SAFC
— Matt (@MattKBSAFC) 17 March 2018
The club is yet to comment on the events as they continue their quest to pull off what would be an extraordinary escape from relegation from the Championship.