Milton Keynes Dons midfielder Nathaniel Mendez-Laing has pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault by beating his wife. The 34-year-old appeared at Cannock Magistrates' Court on crutches to deny the allegation, which relates to an incident at the couple's Staffordshire home in June.
Judge Joseph O’Connor granted the player conditional bail. A trial has been set for January, the court confirmed.
Mendez-Laing, a Guatemalan international, underwent surgery earlier in the week on an injury expected to keep him out for two months. He has not played since the opening day of the League One season, making just two appearances for the Dons this campaign.
The club has declined to comment on the ongoing legal case, the Milton Keynes Citizen reported. This off-field issue arises as the team seeks stability on the pitch, sitting 19th in the table with four points from five games. Their recent form shows no wins in five, with four draws and a defeat.
Their next challenge is an away trip to face AFC Wimbledon on 17 September. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming schedule on the club's fixtures page, while the full squad list details the players available to the manager.
