PATRICK van Aanholt has been warned about his future conduct by Sunderland manager David Moyes after the full-back was pictured allegedly smoking a shisha pipe.

The incident took place more than a month before he was taken out of the starting line-up quarter of an hour before kick-off at Tottenham last Sunday.

But the picture of van Aanholt has since been published, showing him smoking a shisha pipe – which can be used to smoke fruit flavoured tobacco - with friends and that has annoyed Moyes.

The Sunderland manager said: “I don’t expect a player to do that, I don’t expect a player playing for me doing that. I have had a word with him. I am not impressed.

"I also have to say, it was a picture from six weeks ago, it was in his own time, not during the season, but let me make clear I don’t condone it at all.

“It is a bad thing for us to show our younger children, and for supporters to see players (doing that). I don’t think it is a good thing at all.

“Players have to be super fit, we need to get Sunderland super fit and in a great condition to compete in games. That is the first thing I need to get sorted, and what I am concerned with.

“They are role models to so many kids, they are watched all over the world. Things are done with Twitter and all the other things now, you have to be careful and aware of how you behave.

“It’s a short career. You earn really good money as a professional footballer and it is a great life. You know something … it’s not too big an ask just to make sure you look after yourself in that time.”

Moyes admitted there had been a 'misunderstanding' last week over how Sunderland found out that van Aanholt should not face Tottenham on the recommendation of a cardiologist. He had undergone a heart scan five days earlier and Moyes had thought he had been cleared to play.

The 26-year-old, who has had a stern talking to, is in the squad to face Crystal Palace on Saturday, when Fabio Borini, Vito Mannone and Seb Larsson are the three players who will be absent. Jack Rodwell and Jermain Defoe are fit.

Moyes, meanwhile, has admitted Sunderland have been offered Emmanuel Adebayor.

The Northern Echo revealed the free agent’s representatives have been in touch to discuss a switch to the Stadium of Light, but nothing is likely at this stage.

Moyes said: “Adebayor … we were offered him four or five weeks ago and I didn’t do anything about it then and I don’t expect to do anything about it now, unless something changes.”