Danny Drinkwater was left with 'horrendous' injuries after being involved in an altercation outside a Manchester nightclub last weekend. 

The England international, who's currently on-loan at Burnley from Chelsea, was jumped by a gang of up to six men after being thrown out of the venue, according to The Sun. 

A source told the paper that thugs attacked Drinkwater with a 'blunt object' and deliberately attempted to wreck his football career. 

"At one point he was curled up in a ball on the ground, as they repeatedly jumped up and down on his ankle shouting 'Break his legs'," the source said.

"They knew he was a Premier League star and it was his livelihood. There was blood everywhere, and it was all incredibly nasty."

The Sun reports that the incident happened after Drinkwater 'tried to chat up' another footballer's girlfriend.

He was apparently heard crowing "I don’t care, mate, she’s coming home with me," before lashing out.

The attack - which took place last weekend - left Drinkwater with torn ankle ligaments that could keep him out of action for up to four weeks, per the Mirror. 

Pictures also show that the midfielder suffered a black eye, a severely swollen forehead and a cut cheek. 

Burnley had previously avoided commenting on the 'mystery injury' that further delays his first Premier League start in 18 months. 

"Danny accepts he put himself in a position where he can be criticised. He will take on the chin the criticism that comes his way," a spokesperson for the player said this weekend, per The Sun.

"He knows he cannot allow himself to be targeted and has to take himself away from these situations. He will address the concerns of those at the club privately, and honestly."