Newcastle player Joey Barton granted bail after hearing

Barton had initially been remanded until January 16, but after an hour-long hearing Judge David Swift decided to allow him to leave prison.

 No conditions of bail were released by the court.

 Barton was initially accused of common assault, but that charge was later upgraded to assault causing actual bodily harm in the incident in a Liverpool McDonald's on the morning of December 27.

 Barton has already missed Newcastle's Premier league draw against Derby and the defeat to Chelsea, and will now be ruled out of Sunday's FA Cup tie at Stoke City and the Premier League game against Manchester United on January 12.

 The case will continue on January 16.