Andy Carroll bailed to live with captain after assault charge

Newcastle striker Andy Carroll must live with captain Kevin Nolan as a condition of his bail after being charged with assaulting a former girlfriend.

Wearing jeans and a dark hooded top, the England Under-21 international was driven away from Tynedale Magistrates' Court in Hexham, Northumberland, in a people carrier with blacked-out windows.

He was charged with assaulting 18-year-old Laurie Henderson at her home in Ponteland, Northumberland. Police were called to her house at 6am yesterday and she was found to have a minor head injury.

Following an hour-long hearing Carroll was granted conditional bail to live with Nolan at his home, also in Ponteland, a 15-minute walk from the complainant's address.

Magistrates agreed Carroll does not have to stay overnight at Nolan's house when Newcastle are playing. The 21-year-old was told he must not contact any prosecution witnesses.

Carroll, who gave his address as the Jesmond Dene Hotel, Newcastle, will deny the offence and claims self-defence, the court heard.

The case could affect his chances of winning his first full England cap, having come close to a call-up for last week's Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro.

England play a friendly against France next month and as the court case is adjourned until 10 January coach Fabio Capello may decide not to pick the striker.

Carroll played a key role in Newcastle's promotion to the Premier League and recently signed a new five-year contract.