Barton remanded on assault charge

Barton will now spend the New Year in jail

Newcastle and England midfielder Joey Barton has been remanded in custody charged with assault.

The 25-year-old is accused of common assault and affray and appeared before Liverpool magistrates following an incident in the city's Church Street.

He was arrested on Thursday with his brother Andrew, 19, and Nadine Wilson, 27, from Huyton, Merseyside.

The player will reappear on 3 January and misses Newcastle's matches against Chelsea and Manchester City.

The court was told that Barton and a group of friends were allegedly involved a row with another group inside a McDonald's restaurant at 0530 GMT on Thursday.

Mr Barton, of Widnes, Cheshire, was remanded in custody by magistrate Carol Myers.

The England midfielder was one of three people arrested

The case is due back before the same court on 3 January, when Mr Barton is expected to appear again.

A spokesman for Newcastle United said the club was not making any comment about the hearing.

Mr Barton's brother, Andrew, 19, of Widnes, is charged with actual bodily harm and affray.

Ms Wilson, 27, from Huyton, Merseyside, is charged with common assault and affray.

Both are on bail and are due to appear before magistrates in January.