PREMIER League football ace Ross Barkley faces a driving ban after being caught on his phone behind the wheel.
The Chelsea midfielder, who has previous road convictions, is understood to have hired a driver for the next 12 months.
Barkley, 28, was spotted using his mobile phone at the wheel of his £150,000 Mercedes-AMG in Wandsworth, South West London, last July.
The Scouser, who has played for England 33 times, scoring six goals, pleaded guilty to a charge of using a handheld mobile phone while driving a vehicle.
The £84,000-a-week star will appear at Bromley magistrates’ court in South East London next month after totting up enough points to face a ban.
A source claimed he has already made preparations to be taken to and from training. They said: “He’s worried a ban is coming. A driver has been brought in to help.
"He loves the vehicle so he’ll be gutted, but he’s had plenty of warnings over the years and he’s now totted up enough points for a ban.
"Even someone on his wage would find a driving ban incredibly annoying. He could certainly do without it, although any fine and costs isn’t going to set him back too much on his wages.”
In 2013, while playing for Everton, he was fined £650 and handed six penalty points for doing 50mph in a 30mph road in Liverpool.
In 2019, Barkley and his Chelsea team-mates Antonio Rudiger and Callum Hudson-Odoi were all caught speeding on the same stretch of road near the club’s training ground in Cobham, Surrey.
Barkley was fined £700 and received four points.
Chelsea FC declined to comment.
