French police are searching for burglars who used gas to knock out Patrick Vieira and his wife and daughter during a robbery at the family home near Cannes.

Gas was pumped into the house air conditioning system in a bid to keep the occupants asleep.

But, following medical examinations, the 29-year old former Arsenal player, who is now with Juventus, was allowed return to training with the France World Cup squad.

Vieira's wife and daughter are both recovering at home and police said there should be no long-term medical effects.

"There was a break-in at Mr Vieira's home, during which jewellery was stolen," a police spokesman in Cannes said. "The burglars then escaped in Mr Vieira's Mercedes."

The car was later found abandoned along the French coast in Nice.  Police said the full value of the stolen jewellery was unknown.

The Vieira family complained of feeling unwell when they awoke and police scientists confirmed gas was pumped into the house's air conditioning system.

"We are now involved in a hunt for these burglars and we cannot say if they knew this was the home of the footballer or not," a police spokesman said. PA