Nicky Butt: Ex-Manchester United player denies wife attack

Ex-Manchester United footballer Nicky Butt has denied a charge of assaulting his wife.

The former midfielder, 44, is accused of attacking Shelley Butt at an address in Hale, Greater Manchester, in April.

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As well as pleading not guilty to assault by beating, he further denies causing £800 of damage to an iPhone 7, Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard.

Mr Butt, of Park Road, Bowdon, Altrincham, was granted bail until a hearing on 9 January at the same court.

A trial is due to start on 27 February.

Mr Butt won a string of Premier League titles in his playing career at Old Trafford and also played in the club’s dramatic last-gasp 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich in the 1999 Uefa Champions League final.

He later went on to play for Newcastle United, Birmingham City and South China.