Kyle Walker
Walker apologises for taking legal high nitrous oxide. (Reuters)

England and Tottenham Hotspur defender Kyle Walker issued an apology on Sunday evening after a photo of him taking legal high nitrous oxide was published in a Sunday newspaper.

The photograph, released by the Sunday Mirror, depicted the 23-year-old full back inhaling the legal, but potentially harmful substance, on a night out with friends in his home town of Sheffield, believed to have been taken in June this year.

Walker, who started in England's 4-0 win over Moldova on Friday evening, took to his Twitter account to apologise for his actions, stating: "Apologies for not commenting sooner on a story about me today. I've been training and am focused on Tuesday's game for England.

"Now that I know the health risks, it was poor judgement on my part.

"I won't be doing this again and hope that no one else is influenced into putting their health at risk by my actions."

In an official statement issued by his employers at Tottenham to the Daily Mail, Walker added: "I have now been made aware of the health risks associated with the practice and accept that my actions were of poor judgment.

"I hope this will in no way influence or encourage others into putting their own health at risk."

Nitrous oxide, more commonly known as laughing gas, is an increasingly popular high amongst partygoers. Inhaling it brings light-headedness and feelings of euphoria but also presents risks related to the deprivation of oxygen, most notably unconsciousness and in the most severe cases, death.

England manager Roy Hodgson may opt to leave Walker out of his starting XI in the Three Lions' clash with Ukraine in Kiev on Tuesday. Rather than in an effort to move the under-fire Tottenham defender out of the spot light, the Mirror suggest Walker's omission may be one based on purely footballing reasons.

Hodgson will reportedly consider calling up the more-defensive minded Chris Smalling to operate on the right hand of defence over the more adventurous Walker, as the England boss anticipates a more testing evening than at Wembley on Friday night.