Sunderland winger Adam Johnson has appeared in court to deny charges of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl.

The 27-year-old pleaded not guilty at Durham Crown Court, to three counts of sexual activity with a child under 16 and another of grooming.

Johnson, from Castle Eden, County Durham, was arrested in March.

Born in Sunderland, he began his career at Middlesbrough before moving to Manchester City and then Sunderland.

The three counts of sexual activity relate to a single night in January, at two locations in County Durham, while the grooming offence was said to have happened between December and February.