Barton faces court today

Premiership footballer Joey Barton will appear in court today charged with common assault and affray.

The Newcastle United and England midfielder was arrested in Liverpool city centre in the early hours of December 27 following a Boxing Day night out with friends.

Barton (aged 25), of Widnes, Cheshire, has been remanded in custody since being arrested and will appear today at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court.

He and other members of the group were allegedly involved in two separate incidents following a row with another group inside a McDonald’s restaurant in Church Street, Liverpool.

The player’s brother, Andrew (aged 19), from Widnes, is charged with actual bodily harm and affray and Nadine Wilson, 27, from Huyton, Merseyside, is charged with common assault and affray.