A FORMER England youth footballer suffered a split cheek after being headbutted in a pre-season friendly, a court heard.

Lee Stevens told jurors at Oxford Crown Court yesterday he was attacked by Coleshill United player Adam Bradley.

Bradley, 30, denies one count of unlawful wounding.

Mr Stevens, who was playing for a Swindon pub team, told jurors he had been on Southampton’s books and captained England Under 18s.

He said trouble flared after he was fouled by Coleshill defender Andy Fowler. He admitted squaring up to his opponent, adding: “All of a sudden out of the corner of my eye the gentleman who decided he was going to headbutt me came through a bunch of players and then I was struck by his head.”

He said Bradley, of Town End Road, Faringdon, told him he deserved it and laughed in his face. Under cross-examination, Stevens denied his own conduct during the game in Coleshill on August 8, 2010, caused the referee to repeatedly tell him to calm down.

James Hartson, defending, said his client had come over to ask Mr Stevens what he was doing and the clash of heads was an “accidental glancing blow”.

Mr Stevens denied this.

Mr Hartson then suggested the witness had “milked this injury” after telling an FA hearing he had been off work for six weeks with whiplash and headaches but still played for Witney United on August 17. Mr Stevens said he still suffers headaches and regretted playing so soon after the incident but said he needed the money. The trial continues.