In pictures: Stephen Ireland bald again a year after 'hair transplant'

Hair we go! Unpredictable Manchester City star Stephen Ireland delighted observers again today - by turning up to training completely bald just a year after allegedly having a hair transplant.

Ireland hit the headlines early last season when his previously receding hairline was miraculously replaced by a luxurious, combed-forward Beatle cut.

Weeks later he became a tabloid favourite after withdrawing from an Irish international friendly because of the death of his grandmother, who was soon discovered to be alive and living in London.

The City midfieder then claimed the deceased had been his other grandmother, only to be caught out again when she was found to be in rude health back in Dublin.

Ireland later retired completely from international duty, with the rumour mill blaming an alleged incident in which Irish team-mates held him down at a get-together and attempted to find out whether his hair was natural or a wig.

Now he has appeared for City's first training session of the new campaign with his head shaved, adding to a rich vein of eccentricity which has seen him show off his newly-pimped pink Range Rover and celebrate a goal by dropping his shorts to reveal Superman underpants.

Check out our 3pm blog for exclusive 'before' and 'after' pix...