Newcastle United's Nile Ranger Arrested For Assault

It seems it doesn't rain but it pours at Newcastle United. Hot on the heels of Joey Barton leaving for QPR yesterday and the "safety net" of a four year contract, news is breaking that young striker Nile Ranger, who has a history of criminal association, has been arrested after an incident in Newcastle's city centre Groat Market area. A 33 year old man was found unconscious with a broken jaw, and police have arrested the former Southampton player who frequents the area's Ohso bar (outside which his Range Rover can be seen parked on a weekend regularly). A police spokesman released the following statement:

The injured man was unconscious and was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary suffering from a suspected broken jaw. The offender made off and police carried out a search of the area. A 20-year-old man was arrested a short time later, nearby, on suspicion of assault and is currently helping police with their enquiries. Police are appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time who may have seen or heard anything suspicious to contact them.

This would not be the first time the 20 year old has been on the wrong side of the law: in 2007 he was sentenced to eleven weeks in a Young Offender's Institute for armed robbery, and was subsequently released by Southampton thanks to his reputation and attitude. If he is convicted, this will likely spell the end of Ranger's association with the North East club after repeated warnings about his lax attitude, and the embarrassment of him being photographed posing with a gun earlier this year. Rumour has it that Alan Pardew was already keen to move the striker on, having been disgusted with his attitude to training and general conduct. And Mike Ashley has already proved this summer that he is all too willing to get rid of players who bring the good name of the club into disrepute or who rock the boat with their off-field antics. Having met him in person, I personally found Ranger to be polite and personable, passionate about getting an opportunity to play, but the problem is once again down to the social aspect of being in the spotlight, and it seems that the young man may well have gone too far on this occasion.