Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is supporting Nile Ranger after the player appeared in court to deny charges of assault and being drunk and disorderly. The 20 year old pleaded not guilty to two counts of common assault, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and a separate count of being drunk and disorderly at Newcastle Magistrates on Thursday.
He will next appear before Newcastle Magistrates on January 12 to be committed to Crown Court for the alleged assaults and to face trial for being drunk and disorderly.
Pardew said: "This is a guy who has got real talent and he needs to understand that there is a professionalism that comes with his football.
"I think he does understand that now."
He said he would try to arrange a short-term loan deal to another club for Ranger to give him a taste of first first-team football.
