Micah Richards has urged young Aston Villa teammate Jack Grealish to curb his off-the-field habits in order to realise his full potential.
The 19-year-old midfielder raised eyebrows at the end of his breakthrough season at Villa Park after a number of compromising images surfaced online.
He was first photographed inhaling nitrous oxide, before being snapped lying motionless on a road in Tenerife during his holidays.
Having burst onto the scene as a teenager himself, Richards - now 27 - can empathise with the youngster, but says that it is crucial for him to learn from the mistakes.
"Your mindset does change. When you are young you are enjoying your life, but you've got to make mistakes to learn from them," the ex-Manchester City starlet is quoted as saying by BT Sport.
"And as long as everyone learns from them, that's the key.
"Everyone makes mistakes. We are only human, you've got to enjoy life as well, but as long as you give 100% when you are on that field I think the rest takes care of itself."
Tim Sherwood's side kick off their Premier League season with a trip to newly-promoted Bournemouth on Saturday.
Shane Callaghan
