Aston Villa have suspended striker Gabriel Agbonlahor pending an investigation into off-field matters.

The action comes following allegations concerning his conduct in a national newspaper.

The report claims the boyhood Villa fan was pictured with laughing gas canisters, partying with friends in London on the same night that his club were relegated from the Premier League.

Agbonlahor, 29, had been out of the immediate first-team picture having been placed on a fitness programme by caretaker manager Eric Black.

The club captain was dropped from the first team and put on the plan for a fortnight after talks with Black saw the pair agree he was not up to scratch.

Agbonlahor is Villa’s longest-serving current player, having made his debut in 2006, and is their record Premier League goalscorer but has netted just once in the last year.