SEVEN men have been charged in connection with a disturbance outside Manchester's Factory nightclub that left a young Saints rugby league player injured.

Academy player Joe Sharratt, 18, suffered a serious head injury during the fracas on December 2, 2018 at the Princess Street venue.

Two men have been charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent, while all seven face one count of affray.

They have been bailed to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, April 23.

Gareth Carr, 20, of Denbigh Road, Denton; and Amjad Yasin, 37, of Latimer Street, Oldham; have been charged with assault and affray.

Lee Clark, 41, of Epson Avenue, Sale; Imran Ilyas, 40, of Gainsborough Avenue, Oldham; Mohammed Saleem, 21, of Kingsway, Manchester; Mohammed Abdullah, 29, of Golborne Avenue, Manchester; and Javad Bolagh, 23, of Higher Lane, Whitefield; also face affray charges.

Joe, who had played for Lancashire Academy against Australian Schoolboys hours earlier, was taken to hospital after being injured.

He suffered a bleed on the brain.

Greater Manchester Police said he was "now recovering" at home.