SUNDERLAND and England footballer Adam Johnson has appeared in court on child sex charges.

The 28-year-old attended Bradford Crown Court for a 90-minute pre-trial review hearing on Friday.

He has previously denied three counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of grooming.

The defendant, from Castle Eden, County Durham, is due to go on trial in Bradford in February.

He sat in the dock during the legal submissions wearing a dark suit and a white open-necked shirt.

Born in Sunderland, Johnson began his career at Middlesbrough before moving to Manchester City and then to Sunderland for £10 million in 2012.