Former footballer Joey Barton has been arrested after an alleged assault near a golf club.

The 43-year-old is understood to be one of two men detained following reports of an assault in Huyton, Merseyside, on Sunday.

At a High Court hearing on Tuesday over a libel claim involving Barton, Gervase de Wilde, representing ex-England footballer Eni Aluko, said his instructing solicitor had “received a call from a duty solicitor in a police station in Liverpool” shortly before the hearing.

Mr de Wilde told the court that Barton, a former Manchester City midfielder and Bristol Rovers manager, “was arrested yesterday and is currently being held in custody”.

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: “We can confirm that two people have been arrested following reports of an assault in Huyton on Sunday 8 March.

“At around 9pm, emergency services were called to Fairway to reports of a man having been assaulted near to Huyton and Prescot Golf Club.

“The victim was taken to hospital for assessment of injuries to his face and ribs.

“A 50-year-old man and a 43-year-old man have both been arrested on suspicion of Section 18 wounding.”