The Sun newspaper will this afternoon challenge the super injunction preventing it from identifying the footballer who it says had an extra-marital affair with Imogen Thomas.

The paper has said on its site that it has instructed its lawyers to ask the High Court to lift the gagging order following the footballer’s image being placed on the front of the Sunday Herald in Scotland.

A Sun spokesman said: "Following publication on the front page of a Scottish newspaper it is clear this injunction is unworkable.

"When the Prime Minister says on breakfast television that he knows the identity of the footballer, it is time for the courts to do the right thing and end a situation where readers of some newspapers but not others are allowed to know the worst kept secret in the country.

"We have asked our lawyers to make an application at the High Court and await the outcome with great interest."

Parliament will also discuss the subject this afternoon when Culture Select Committee chairman John Whittingdale asks Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt to set out the Government's position on "granting and enforcement" of privacy orders.