Keith Gillespie's (23), Newcastle United's winger, was yesterday arrested by Northumbia police in connection with an alleged incident at a hotel in Gateshead on February 15th.

Having returned early from Newcastle's ill-fated trip to Dublin with a head wound following some "horse play" with Alan Shearer, Gillespie and his solicitor were spoken to yesterday morning by police. Gillespie was released on bail without charge.

The investigation surrounds some alleged pushing and shoving in the Gibside Arms Hotel in Whickham.