Morrison charged with assault

London - West Ham United midfielder Ravel Morrison has been remanded in custody after being charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend and her mother in a Manchester courtroom on Thursday.

The 21-year-old former Manchester United player is accused of punching and slapping his former girlfriend Reah Mansoor, 19, and her mother, 39-year-old Parveen Mansoor, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The England Under-21 international, who was arrested on Wednesday, was remanded until 7 August after appearing before Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court to face two counts of common assault.

Morrison, who wore a white T-shirt and white tracksuit bottoms, did not enter a plea and spoke only to confirm his name and age.

He closed his eyes and puffed out his cheeks after his bail application was rejected.

The judge, District Judge James Prowse, told him: "You are remanded in custody to appear back before this court by video-link from prison one week from today on August 7."

He was then handcuffed and led back to the cells.

Morrison is accused of assaulting Reah Mansoor outside a bar in Manchester. A further assault on her and her mother is alleged to have taken place a short time later at her mother's house in Salford, west of Manchester.

"At about 03:20 (02:20 GMT) on Sunday, 27 July 2014, police were called to an address on Alexandra Road, Peel Green, Salford, following reports a 19-year-old woman and a 39-year-old woman had been assaulted," said a spokeswoman from Greater Manchester Police.

"Officers attended and established the young woman had also been assaulted outside a bar in Manchester city centre earlier that evening and a 21-year-old man was subsequently arrested at a later date."

Morrison was tipped for stardom after progressing through Manchester United's youth ranks, but disciplinary issues prompted former manager Alex Ferguson to sell him to West Ham for £650 000 in January 2012.

After spending the 2012-13 season on loan at second-tier Birmingham City, Morrison made a bright start to last season for West Ham, notably scoring a fine solo goal against Tottenham Hotspur.

But after a groin injury and a loss of form in mid-season, he was loaned to Queens Park Rangers, who he helped secure promotion from the Championship.

Morrison did not travel with West Ham on their recent pre-season tour of New Zealand as he had to undergo groin surgery.