SEVEN men charged in connection with a disturbance outside a Manchester's nightclub that left a Saints academy player with a serious head injury are due to appear in court today (Tuesday).

Saints academy player Joe Sharratt, who was then 18, suffered a serious head injury during the fracas on December 2, 2018 at the Factory nightclub on Princess Street.

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

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

Meanwhile, 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.

They are all due to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, April 23.

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.

Joe returned to light training with the Saints Under 19s squad in March.