Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood admits he has shown ‘poor judgement’ after he was filmed inhaling laughing gas.
A video has shown the 18-year-old filling a balloon with nitrous oxide from a canister before inhaling the gas at an apartment in Manchester a few weeks ago.
The footage, which was first published by The Sun, has surfaced less than a week after Greenwood was sent home in disgrace for breaking coronavirus restrictions with England’s national team.
The United forward and Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden arranged to sneak two women into England’s team hotel in Reykjavik the day after the team’s 1-0 victory over Iceland.
But after being alerted to the break, England manager Gareth Southgate had no choice but to send Greenwood and Foden back to the UK as the coronavirus restrictions prevented all players from contact with anyone outside of the squad – including family members.
In a statement issued through United, Greenwood said: ‘I have now been made aware of the health risks associated with this practice — and accept that even trying it, as shown in these historical pictures, was poor judgement on my part.
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‘I strongly urge others not to follow my example.
‘As an 18 year old I am learning all the time. However this week I’ve also learned that I will be judged to a higher standard because of my career, and I must respect that in future.
‘I am determined to repay the faith shown in me by my manager and coaches.’
While it is not illegal to possess nitrous oxide, it is illegal to sell and inhaling large quantities can lead to people becoming unconscious and potential brain damage.
The 18-year-old did not feature in United’s 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa in a pre-season friendly on Saturday.
United’s Premier League campaign begins next Saturday as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side host Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
