FOOTBALLER Jonathan Wood-gate was last night facing up to a legal bill of £1m after being found guilty of affray during a brutal street attack on an Asian student.

The player, from Middlesbrough, was cleared of causing grievous bodily harm along with Leeds United team-mate Lee Bowyer, who was acquitted of GBH and affray.

Woodgate, 21, was ordered to do 100 hours community service, but told that he would get no help with his legal costs.

He was immediately made available for selection by Leeds United, as was Bowyer, and could even figure in tomorrow's Premiership game against Leicester if fit.

The defender's friend, Paul Clifford, who bit his victim's cheek during the attack, was jailed for six years by Mr Justice Henriques after being found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm and affray.

Another friend of Woodgate's, Neale Caveney, was also ordered to do 100 hours community punishment after he was found guilty of affray but cleared of causing GBH at Hull Crown Court.

Woodgate, Bowyer, 24, of Leeds, Clifford and Caveney, both 22 and from Middlesbrough, all denied causing Sarfraz Najeib, 21, grievous bodily harm and affray.

Sentencing Clifford, Mr Justice Henriques said: "This was a shocking and violent crime - five young men attacking a young student defenceless on the ground. The other four remain unidentified.

"The group of five broke Sarfraz Najeib's leg. They broke his cheek. They broke his nose. You then plunged your teeth into his face and shook him like a dog scarring him for life."

The prosecution alleged that in January last year, Mr Najeib and his friends were chased through the city centre following a confrontation outside the Majestyk nightclub. The student, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was caught in Mill Hill where he was attacked.

Woodgate, Clifford and Caveney said they took no part in the attack. They claimed to have watched an incident from the top of Mill Hill.

Former England under-21 captain Bowyer said he did not enter Mill Hill that night because he was left dazed after an assault in nearby Boar Lane.

The jury of seven women and five men first retired to consider its verdicts on Monday afternoon after an eight week re-trial. They deliberated for more than 22 hours before returning the verdicts.

The first trial, which began in the autumn last year, collapsed after an article in a Sunday newspaper. The cost of both trials has been estimated at £15m.

Woodgate and Bowyer both had histories of violence, which the jury was not told about.

Bowyer narrowly escaped jail after admitting affray during a drunken brawl in a McDonald's restaurant, and Woodgate had admitted head-butting a teenager outside a store in his home town of Middlesbrough when he was only 14.

It was revealed that Woodgate was earning £13,000 with bonuses on top. His barrister, David Fish, said his costs were well over £1m for the two trials.

Addressing both Woodgate and Caveney, the trial judge said: "Five young students were caused sheer terror as they were pursued through the streets running for their lives."

He told the pair that the maximum prison sentence permitted for the crime of affray was three years.

But he continued: "A young man of good character in ordinary circumstances would be most unlikely to lose his liberty for this crime as a first offence."

The judge refused an application for costs by Bowyer, who is now cleared to play for England after a previous ban.

Woodgate left the court with his solicitor, Nick Freeman, who read a statement which said: "This trial has proved a tremendous ordeal not only for Jonathan Woodgate but also for the Najeib family with whom Jonathan has every sympathy.

"He wishes to put this episode of his life behind him and resume his full professional career as soon as possible."

He is now expected to carry out his community punishment order in his home town of Middlesbrough which could begin within the next ten days.

Alistair Morrison, assistant chief probation officer on Teesside, said the footballer could expect no special treatment and could face tasks such as clearing up graveyards or helping to strengthen sea defences.

If he failed to attend any sessions he would be hauled back before the courts.

Meanwhile, the victim of the attack, Mr Najeib was said to be "absolutely disappointed and shattered" by the jury's verdicts.

His father Muhammed, 47, pledged to "fight on for justice", adding: "The last 18 months have been a living hell for our family. Our lives have been shattered.