Gerrard bailed until trial in March

(REUTERS)

Steven Gerrard was yesterday bailed until 20 March after an appearance at North Sefton Magistrates' Court in Southport, Merseyside, on charges of assault and affray arising from an incident at a nightclub in the town last month.

The Liverpool captain, 28, told the court he intends to plead not guilty to the charges against him. Gerrard and two other men, John Doran, 29, and Ian Smith, 19, who face the same charges, were among eight people arrested on 29 December after a disturbance at the Lounge Inn club in Southport.

The court heard that Marcus McGee, 34, received two cuts to his face and broken tooth during an alleged fight. The case will be heard again on 20 March after a routine eight-week adjournment for case preparation. Gerrard, who was dressed in a dark blue suit and black tie, arrived and departed in a chauffeur-driven black BMW.

During the half-hour hearing, which was closed to the public on "safety grounds" over fears hundreds of fans would pack the galleries, the England international spoke only to confirm his name, age and address, and to say he intended to plead not guilty to affray and assault.