Former Premier League winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing has appeared in court charged with assault by beating his wife at their Staffordshire home.
The 34-year-old, who plays for MK Dons, is accused of assaulting Saira Mendez-Laing in June after police were called to the couple’s property in Shenstone. The Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charge last month.
Mendez-Laing appeared at Cannock magistrates’ court on Friday and denied the allegation. He entered the building on crutches, confirming his name, age and address before making no further comment.
The court heard that he is accused of repeatedly hitting his wife over the head and injuring her arm. The alleged confrontation is said to have begun with a disagreement about a phone.
Mendez-Laing maintains that the dispute did not become a physical assault. He was granted conditional bail by Judge Joseph O’Connor, with the case listed for trial in January next year.
Saira Mendez-Laing is the mother of the footballer’s child. The couple married last summer, around a year before the court appearance.
MK Dons said they could not comment while the case is ongoing. Mendez-Laing has not played since the opening day of the League One campaign.
He made 20 Premier League appearances for Cardiff during the 2019-20 season, scoring four goals. He also represents Guatemala, for whom he qualifies through his mother and maternal grandmother.
Mendez-Laing joined MK Dons after three years with Derby, where he scored 19 goals in 131 appearances.
