Woodgate accused of another pub assault

Jonathan Woodgate, the football star who was convicted of affray for his role in an attack on an Asian student, is being investigated over an alleged assault in a pub.

The £9m England and Newcastle United defender is accused of attacking a student in an altercation at the Dickens Inn in Middlesbrough on Tuesday.

He allegedly hit Anthony Strange, 18, after the Middlesbrough fan claimed he joked with the Premiership footballer and said: "You should have signed for the Boro – they're a better team."

Woodgate was convicted of affray in 2001 and ordered to serve 100 hours community service and fined eight weeks wages by his club after an attack on student Sarfraz Najeib during a night of drinking and clubbing. He was acquitted of assault in Leeds city centre in 2000.

In this week's incident Mr Strange alleges he "wound up" the 23-year-old footballer when the two bumped into each other in the toilets of the Dickens Inn at about 4pm.

He told police he had made a few "daft" comments to Woodgate about his much publicised move from Leeds to Newcastle earlier this year.

Mr Strange, who claims he was drinking with a friend, stayed in the pub until later that night when he says he became concerned about the injury to his face. He went to Middlesbrough General Hospital for treatment but was found to have no broken bones just bruising. He then reported the alleged attack to police.

Mr Strange added: "I just said to Woodgate 'you should have signed for the Boro – they're a better team'.

"I was just winding him up, it went on for about 10 seconds. It was just a laugh, just a daft joke."

But Woodgate has denied he had done anything wrong, saying: "I'm perfectly happy to co-operate with the police in any way they wish. I've nothing to hide. I've done nothing wrong."

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said: "We are investigating an allegation of assault that allegedly took place at the Dickens Inn on Tuesday."