Ameobi in mess

The 27-year-old thought thieves had broken in to his £500,000 house in the city's Jesmond district.

He phoned police and detailed several items that were missing. A police source told the Daily Mirror: "We were told thieves had taken a number of things, the most important one being the chequebook.

"Given what soccer stars earn, that was obviously a matter of great concern."

However, Ameobi subsequently admitted his mistake and found the 'stolen' items amid household clutter.

"We got a call back saying nothing was missing after all," said the source. "Perhaps he had had a party and the place just looked as if it had been burgled."

A police spokesman confirmed: "We received a report of a theft from a house in Jesmond but it appears to have been a genuine misunderstanding."

Ameobi, who has been a Newcastle player since 2000, has scored three goals in 14 Premier League games this season.