By Tyne-Talk
December 27 2007

The Daily Mail are reporting that Newcastle United FC midfielder Joey Barton has been arrested for an alleged assault in the early hours of this morning having been pulled in by police in his hometown Liverpool.

Barton who was kept out of his teams 1-0 defeat against Wigan Athletic with an ankle injury is alleged to have been "acting aggressively and bouncing from one group of people to another, apparently looking for a fight" at approximately 5.30 in the morning.

It is unknown whether the former Manchester City player who earns £45,000 per week at Newcastle was given permission not to travel back from the game with the rest of the team or whether he defied orders to go partying with friends.

Barton who has a string of offences to his name and is currently awaiting trial due to take place in June, for a previous assault on former team-mate Ousmane Dabo, was kept in a cell for several hours giving him time to rest before police interviewed him.

Police were called after it was alleged that Barton and 2 others had attacked two men, however, whilst police confirmed that a 25-year-old man, 19-year-old man and 27-year-old woman were all arrested on suspicion of assault, police earlier refused to confirm whether they allegedly attacked received hospital treatment for any injuries inflicted up on them, however latest reports suggest they were not taken to hospital.

The official police statement read:

"Two men and a woman have been arrested by police following an assault on two men in Liverpool city centre in the early hours of this morning. The incident happened just after 5.30am when two men suffered an assault on Church Street.

Two men, aged 25 and 19, and a 27-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of assault and have been taken to a police station on Merseyside, where they will be questioned later today."

Joey Barton who has featured heavily in Newcastle United's Premier League campaign this season is also due to be tested for illegal substances as part of the investigation.

This latest indicent doesnt look good on either Barton or manager Sam Allardyce who at the time of signing bad boy Barton said:

“I had to convince the board that myself and Joey would be able to deal with that side and not let that side of it come out yet again. Me, this football club and Joey cannot run into that sort of off-the-field trouble again.”

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