Reports from Senegal that El Hadji Diouf has been "beaten up" in a bar toilet will surely leave Brian McDermott unimpressed, if there is any truth in the rumours of course.

Diouf returned to his homeland a few weeks ago, but has been in the headlines. Firstly a Guinean club claimed to have signed him, forcing Leeds to make a public statement denying the 31-year-old had left Elland Road.

Today the Sun reported that local journal La Populaire claimed Diouf had been "beaten up" by a fellow drinker in the Five bar in Almadies, where he had been drinking with his wife. It is understood the alleged attack took place in the bar toilets.

Despite his immense talent and popularity at Leeds, trouble never seems to be far away from the former Liverpool, Blackburn and Bolton forward. Although he seemed to have kept a lid on his chequered past last season towards the end of it stories emerged in the press about his colourful private life and he was heavily criticised by Brian McDermott for getting himself sent-off for gesticulating at Brighton fans in our last home game of the season.

Although McDermott is a self-confessed admirer of Diouf, he may think these latest rumours are a bridge too far? Diouf has a year to go on his Leeds deal, altercations in bars never look good when professional footballers are concerned as we well know from the days of Messers Bowyer and Woodgate.

So maybe it is time to call time on Diouf's career?

Photo: Action Images

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