SCOUSE PUNCH

The opening weekend of the football season has been one of unlikely casualties, with Sir Bobby Robson and Luke Chadwick unexpectedly taken ill, and now comes an even more unlikely ailment: Everton winger Andy van der Meyde was admitted to hospital overnight after claiming his drink was spiked.

Van der Meyde began to feel unwell at his home in Wirral, Merseyside, in the early hours of this morning, and his partner called police to say that his drink been spiked.

It is believed that van der Meyde had been enjoying a night out in Liverpool's fashionable Albert Dock area. He was taken by ambulance to Arrowe Park hospital in Wirral suffering from breathing problems.

A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police said an investigation was underway. "Police were called at 2.40am today by a woman saying her partner had had his drink spiked," she said. "He was taken to Arrowe Park hospital. Inquiries have been made at bars in Liverpool city centre and CCTV footage is being examined."

Everton confirmed Van der Meyde's illness in a statement this morning. "His progress is currently being monitored by hospital staff and the club will be making no further comment on the incident until after Merseyside Police have completed their ongoing investigation into the circumstances leading up to Andy's admission into hospital."