Downing released on bail

Wednesday, 11 January 2012 16:26

Written by Editor

Stewart Downing was back in training on Monday morning after his arrest on suspicion of assaulting his ex-girlfriend. The Liverpool winger looked downcast as he went through his paces just over a day after being held by police. Downing, 27, was taken into custody in the early hours of Sunday morning after an early-morning fracas outside the Cross Keys club and pub in Yarm, south of Middlesbrough.

A row between a member of the player’s  group and Donna Moloney, the mother of Downing’s  daughter, started inside the venue and carried on outside. It is thought Downing initially stepped in to keep the peace but he was arrested along with 32-year-old Moloney before the pair were released on bail pending further inquiries.

In the wake of the Luis Suarez affair and the alleged racial abuse of Oldham midfielder Tom Adeyemi on Friday night, the last thing Liverpool needed was an off-field incident surrounding one of their high-profile players.
Liverpool would not comment on the matter on Sunday but Downing’s place in the squad for the biggest game of their season so far – the first leg of the  Carling Cup semi-final at  Manchester City on Wednesday – must now surely be called  into question.