JIMMY Bullard has been sensationally suspended by Ipswich Town.

The midfielder was told to stay away from training on Friday and will not be in the squad for Saturday’s Championship game against Bristol City at Portman Road.

The EADT understands that both Bullard and team-mate Michael Chopra arrived late for training on Thursday morning.

Social networking sites had been awash with alleged sightings of the pair in Newcastle night clubs.

Boss Paul Jewell made the duo train with his youth team players, but while Chopra returned to first-team training yesterday – and is in the squad for this afternoon’s match – Bullard has been told to keep away for now.

An Ipswich Town club spokesman said: “We are making investigations into this matter. The focus is currently fully on today’s important game against Bristol City, but we will be making a comment in due course.”

The Blues squad met in London for a club-sanctioned team bonding session on Tuesday.

It is believed Bullard and Chopra travelled onwards to the north east that evening. The latter regularly returns to his native north east to see his young son.

Meanwhile, Hartlepool United’s Nobby Solano was reportedly spotted with Bullard and Chopra.

The 37-year-old failed to turn up for a reserve team game against Hull City on Wednesday night, with manager Neale Cooper saying: “He was meant to be there, but never appeared. We will see what happens.”

This is the second time in a little over seven months that Bullard has been suspended by a football club.

The 33-year-old was suspended by former employers Hull City in July last year following an alleged breach of club discipline on a pre-season training camp in Slovenia. His contract was terminated the following month – the player is still in a legal dispute with the Tigers over the decision – and he soon signed on a free transfer for Ipswich, the club where he had just won player-of-the-year following an impressive end-of-season loan spell.

The former Premier League star has failed to hit those same heights that made him such a fans’ favourite last year though, the last of his 12 starts coming in the 4-0 thrashing at Burnley last November.

Chopra, meanwhile, has had an inconsistent campaign following his �1million switch from Cardiff last summer and continues to battle a severe gambling addiction.

He has recently rediscovered his form though, with five goals in his last five games keeping Jason Scotland – still three starts away from activating a clause in his contract which would give him another year at the club – on the bench.