EPL: Drinkwater joins Chelsea training after drink driving charge

Chelsea midfielder Danny Drinkwater has been charged with drink driving after crashing his car following a party during the early hours of Monday morning.

The former Leicester star, who reported for training at the club’s Cobham HQ as normal on Tuesday, is alleged to have crashed his Range Rover into a Skoda at approximately 12.30am, just hours before the Blues’ win over West Ham at Stamford Bridge.

In a statement, Cheshire Police said: ‘A 29-year-old from Nether Alderley has been charged with drink driving following an incident in Cheshire.

‘Danny Drinkwater, of Bollington Lane, was arrested shortly after 12.30am on Monday 8 April following a one-vehicle collision on Ashley Road in Mere.

‘He has been released on unconditional bail and is set to appear at Stockport Magistrates’ Court on Monday 13 May.’

The crash involving Drinkwater left debris scattered across a country road while a fence was also flattened. 

Drinkwater and solicitor Beth Mantel, who he is said to have been travelling with at the time, were both treated for minor injuries along with Emma Brown, 30, who was driving the Skoda. 

He and Mantel had attended a charity event in an upmarket bar called Victors in Hale, Greater Manchester, approximately six miles away from Drinkwater’s home, according to The Sun.

Mantel has been contacted by MailOnline for comment.

Drinkwater’s former team-mate Cesc Fabregas poked fun at him on Twitter by replying ‘Danny Drinkwhat?’ to a tweet revealing he had been charged.  

Chelsea are conducting their own internal enquires into the matter but did not comment publicly on Tuesday due to the police’s ongoing investigation.

But Blues chiefs are likely to take a dim view of the incident, which could leave the player open to in-house disciplinary sanctions.

Drinkwater is out of favour at Chelsea, his only appearance for Maurizio Sarri this season coming in the Community Shield.

He has been deemed surplus to requirements by the Italian manager but Drinkwater, who earns in the region of £100,000-per-week, has remained at Stamford Bridge.

He is expected to leave Chelsea this summer, but the club’s impending transfer ban and concerns over their dwindling home grown quota may have an impact on his future at the end of the season.  

Drinkwater has played only once for Chelsea this season in the Community Shielf clash against Manchester City – which he lost.

The England international signed for the Stamford Bridge club after helping Leicester claim an historic Premier League title in the 2015-16 campaign.

But, following a £35million move from the Foxes, he has been on the periphery at Chelsea and is not fancied by boss Maurizio Sarri.

He has played just 23 times, scoring one goal, in two-and-a-half seasons at the club. 

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