Newcastle Utd striker Carroll charged with assault

Newcastle United striker Andy Carroll has been charged with assaulting a teenage girl, police said on Monday.

The 21-year-old forward, who played in Newcastle's 2-2 draw with Wigan on Saturday, is due to appear in court later on Monday.

"Andrew Thomas Carroll, 21, Prestwick, Newcastle, has been charged with assault and is due to appear before Tynedale Magistrates," a spokesman for Northumbria Police said.

Officers were called shortly after 6 am on Sunday to a house in Ponteland area of Northumberland after the assault was reported, the spokesman said. An 18-year-old girl at the scene was found to have suffered a minor head injury.

Carroll, who has scored four times in the Premier League this season and has been tipped to win a call-up to the England squad, recently signed a new five-year deal with Newcastle.