LONDON (Reuters) - Former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne was detained under the Mental Health Act for the third time this year on Tuesday.

Gary Mabbutt, who played with Gascoigne for Tottenham Hotspur, told BBC Radio Five that the 41-year-old had been sectioned for up to six months, a day after being released.

"Since Paul was sectioned in February, we have all been working together to get Paul the best possible treatment to overcome his problems," Mabbutt said.

"The last six to eight weeks has been frustrating because he has been going in voluntarily and then discharging himself. It has been hard to get Paul detained so he can get the help he needs."

Gascoigne was detained on Sunday after appearing agitated in public but was released on Monday. However, newspaper photographs on Tuesday showed him sitting in a barber's chair in London receiving treatment from medics.

Mabbutt said Gascoigne had been detained under Section Three of the Mental Health Act after being assessed by doctors and cannot discharge himself.

Gascoigne, who played for clubs including Tottenham, Newcastle United, Rangers and Lazio, was previously detained after being arrested at a hotel in Newcastle in February. He was subsequently released in March.

Gascoigne won 57 caps between 1988 and 1998 but has struggled with a series of health and alcohol-related problems since retiring from the game.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ed Osmond)