A man has pleaded not guilty to assaulting Rangers assistant manager Gary McAllister on a night out. 

Thirty three year-old Damien Swan allegedly punched the former Scotland captain in the early hours of March 24 last year as he waited for a taxi.  

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Leeds Magistrates Court heard how Swan, of Greenmount Terrace in Leeds, had punched McAllister in the face - causing his teeth to cut through his lip. McAllister's teeth became damaged as a result of his injuries and he required hospital treatment. 

Swan, of Leeds, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and nationality as Bermudan and pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

District Judge Richard Kitson ruled the severity of McAllister's injuries meant the case would need to be heard at a crown court.

He told Swan: "They were nasty injuries from a punch to the face, causing his teeth to go through his lip and causing damage to his teeth."

The matter has been sent to Leeds Crown Court where Swan's first appearance will be February 12. 

McAllister won the league with Leeds United in 1992 and was part of Liverpool's treble winning side of 2001, bagging the FA Cup, the League Cup and the UEFA Cup.

The 55 year-old also has 57 caps with Scotland and captained his country at the Euro 96.