The man who saved footballer Paul Merson from his drink and drugs cycle predicted yesterday: "Paul Gascoigne will die young if he doesn't change his lifestyle very quickly."
Amid reports that 31-year-old Gascoigne has checked into an al- coholism clinic, Steve Jacobs, an addiction counsellor, added: "The pattern of Gascoigne's life, as I understand it, is terrifying. If his behaviour continues as it is the boy's life will progress in one of three ways. He will end up in the gutter, in prison or he will die. . . If he doesn't change I am certain he will never celebrate his 40th birthday."
Gascoigne's business manager, Mel Stein would not comment yesterday on reports the star had checked into a rehabilitation clinic.
Jacobs was speaking after reports that the Middlesbrough star had gone on a four day alcohol-fuelled "bender" in Dublin last week, during which he fell over and cut his face.
Middlesbrough manager Bryan Robson yesterday fiercely defended the footballer for whom he paid £3.5m when he bought him from Glasgow Rangers last summer. Robson said: "Gazza has got a problem. It's been building up for quite a few years. I've spoken to him about it and we're trying to do something."
Gascoigne has been a controversial figure all his professional life, often finding himself at the centre of attention with his friend Jimmy "Five Bellies" Gardner. Two months ago Gascoigne's friend David Cheek (43) was found dead in a Gateshead hotel room from acute alcoholic poisoning after a night out with Gazza.
England manager Glenn Hoddle dropped Gascoigne from the England squad immediately before last summer's World Cup competition in France. Gascoigne vowed to regain his England place.