The 40-year-old Gascoigne was released from Middleton St. George Hospital in Durham late last week after a three-week stay precipitated by a two-month drug-and-alcohol binge.

Gascoigne told The Sun in an interview at his father's home that he has since been passing time playing Nintendo Wii games with his 10-year-old son, Regan.

"It's good fun," he said. "I've been playing Regan at 10-pin bowling on the Wii games. He challenged me."

Known as "Gazza," Gascoigne was a top player in Britain and a fixture on the national team from 1988-98 but has had his share of personal problems since retiring from competition.