Villa suspend Bannan after his arrest for drink-driving

The Scotland midfielder, who started in the defeat to West Brom on Saturday, will not be considered for selection for Saturday’s Barclays Premier League clash at Sunderland. Bannan was arrested by police on suspicion of drink driving – along with Shrewsbury striker James Collins, a former Villa player – and subsequently bailed.

Villa manager Alex McLeish, in a media statement, said: “Barry Bannan has been suspended while the club carries out internal enquiries into allegations which arose last weekend. He will not be available for this weekend’s game at Sunderland.”

The accident occurred on the M1 at around 5.30am on Sunday, near junction 26, with the player reportedly arrested in Nottingham at 7am. Villa confirmed yesterday that they had launched the investigation and have now opted to suspend Bannan. Police had already confirmed that two men had been bailed after being arrested in connection with the accident involving a Range Rover on the southbound carriageway. Bannan is regarded as one of Villa’s brightest prospects and has made an encouraging start to the current campaign.

The 21-year-old, whose playing style has been compared to Barcelona and Spain superstar Xavi, has already won nine caps for Scotland and started the last three games of the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, with manager Craig Levein viewing him as a key man in his preparations for the World Cup 2014 campaign.

Collins, who played as a trialist for Aberdeen in a friendly against Tamworth in July 2010, joined Shrewsbury from Villa during the 2011 January transfer window.