New Year behind bars for Barton

Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton will spend New Year in jail after being refused bail on charges of common assault and affray, a court has ruled.

The 25-year-old was arrested in Liverpool early on Thursday after an incident in the city centre.

Barton was remanded in custody until January 3 by Magistrate Carol Myers and will miss Saturday's Barclays Premier League match at Chelsea and the visit to Tyneside of former club Manchester City on Wednesday.

Barton, of Foxbank Close in Widnes, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates' Court for a 45-minute bail hearing on Friday morning.

The court was told he and a group of friends were allegedly involved in two separate incidents following a row with another group inside a McDonald's restaurant in Church Street, Liverpool.

The player had sat through the hearing, still wearing his black shirt and jumper from Boxing Day night, with his head bowed and hidden from the press and public gallery.

The case is due back before Liverpool Magistrates on January 3 when Barton is expected to appear via videolink.

A spokesman for Newcastle United said the club was not yet making any statement. His agent, Willie McKay, was not immediately available for comment.

Barton's brother, Andrew, 19, from Widnes, is charged with actual bodily harm and affray and Nadine Wilson, 27, from Huyton, Merseyside, who was also part of Barton's group, is charged with common assault and affray.

Neither appeared in court on Friday. They are both on bail to appear before magistrates next month.