The England and Newcastle United midfielder allegedly attacked fellow player Ousmane Dabo.

Barton was formally charged with assault by police after answering bail in Manchester today.

The 24-year-old, capped once for England, was arrested in May while a player for his previous club Manchester City.

It is alleged he attacked his then team-mate Dabo, 30, during a training session at the club's complex in Carrington, south Manchester.

Barton was arrested, spoken to by police and bailed until today while they made further inquiries to find out what happened.

The player was suspended by Manchester City after the incident, and sold by the club to Newcastle in June in a £5.8 million deal.

He is now out of action for Newcastle after fracturing a metatarsal bone in his left foot during a pre-season friendly last week.

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said Joseph Anthony Barton was charged today with Section 47 assault.

He will appear at Trafford Magistrates' Court next Thursday.

Should Barton plead not guilty and the case go to trial, it can be heard either at magistrates court or in front of a jury at crown court.

The offence is understood to carry a maximum sentence of up to five years in jail on conviction.