Footballer’s friend broke man’s face on night out

A friend of Premier League footballer James Maddison has told a court he was acting in self defence when he punched and fractured the cheekbone of a man in a group that was allegedly “taking the mick” out of the midfielder on a night out.

Nathan Cadby, 21, told Ipswich Crown Court he hit James Brown in October 2016, but had done so as “I thought he was going to punch me or headbutt me”.

Cadby denies inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Brown.

Self-employed carpenter Cadby, from Coventry, said he was on a night out in Norwich with Mr Maddison and others during an international football break.

Mr Maddison played for Norwich City and was on loan to Aberdeen at the time of the alleged incident. He now plays for Leicester City.