The driver of a Range Rover was held by police after the boys, aged eight and 10, were fatally injured in a collision on the M6 in north Staffordshire on Saturday morning.

In a statement, Plymouth said: "The club is aware of an incident involving one of our players that occurred on Saturday morning on the M6."

It continued: "As the incident is subject to police enquiries, the club feels it would be inappropriate to make any comment at this stage."

Staffordshire Police would not identify the man held on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, but sources have told the Press Association that he is McCormick.

The 24-year-old from Coventry is a former England youth international and was twice voted the club's young player of the season.

A Staffordshire Police spokeswoman said officers were still questioning a man held earlier on Saturday in connection with the collision, which involved his black Range Rover and a Toyota Previa people carrier.

And the force confirmed the 37-year-old Toyota driver taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire with serious injuries is the father of the two boys who died.

He remained in a serious condition in hospital on Saturday afternoon and his injuries are now not thought to be life-threatening.

The other occupants of the people carrier were a 49-year-old man and two boys aged 15 and eight. It is thought the party were travelling from Manchester to Silverstone, in Northamptonshire, when the crash happened shortly before 5.45am near junction 16 of the motorway.