Barton charged with player assault

Newcastle United's new signing Joey Barton was charged with assault yesterday following an alleged attack on former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo last season.

Greater Manchester Police said in a statement that Barton, who joined Newcastle from City in June, was due to appear at Trafford Magistrates' Court on August 9.

Dabo made a formal complaint to police, alleging that Barton had attacked him during a training session at City's Carrington training ground on May 1.

Newspaper photographs later that month showed Dabo with heavy swelling on his face. The 30-year-old said he had been left looking like "the Elephant Man".

Barton was suspended by City for the rest of the season after the incident.