Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton has been charged with assault after a training ground bust-up with a former team-mate.

Barton allegedly attacked fellow player Ousmane Dabo at the end of last season when he was still at Manchester City.

He 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. 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 City after the incident and sold to Newcastle in June in a £5.8million 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.