Darron Gibson has been warned he faces jail after pleading guilty to drink-driving for the second time in three years.
The 30-year-old was found to be three times over the limit after clipping a taxi and then driving on for several miles before crashing his Mercedes 4x4 into several parked cars while on his way to Sunderland's training ground on St Patrick's Day last month.
Gibson - whose contract with the Black Cats was subsequently terminated - will be sentenced on May 25 and has been told to expect a custodial term and a driving ban of at least three years.