Former Manchester City and Newcastle footballer Joey Barton, pictured in August 2024

London (AFP) - Former Premier League footballer Joey Barton has been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with an assault near a golf club in northwest England.

The 43-year-old former Manchester City and Newcastle midfielder is accused of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm along with a second man, Gary O’Grady, 50.

They appeared in the dock at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and spoke to confirm their names, addresses and dates of birth.

The case was sent to Liverpool Crown Court, where the men will appear for a plea hearing on April 7.

District Judge James Hatton told Barton, who wore a navy blue jumper, he would be remanded in custody until that hearing while O’Grady was released on conditional bail.

The men are accused of attacking Kevin Lynch in Huyton, near Liverpool, on Sunday.

Emergency services were called at around 2100 GMT on that day after a man suffered serious injuries to his face and body near Huyton and Prescot Golf Club.

He is in a serious but stable condition in hospital, Merseyside Police said.

The two defendants and the victim all appear on England Golf lists as members of the golf club.

Earlier, at the High Court on Tuesday, Barton was ordered to pay “substantial” damages and legal costs over a libel claim brought by former England forward, now TV pundit, Eni Aluko.

Aluko’s lawyer Gervase de Wilde said Barton had “carried out a deliberately targeted public campaign of vilification” in 48 social media posts relating to his client between January and August 2024.

Barton, who has one England cap, also played for QPR, Rangers, Burnley and Marseille.

He went into coaching after retiring from playing in 2017, with management spells at Fleetwood and Bristol Rovers, and currently hosts a podcast.