Leeds United footballer Michael Duberry told a jury yesterday that the club's solicitor advised him to continue lying to police over a fellow player's alleged involvement in an attack on an Asian student.

He also said that teammate Jonathan Woodgate, who comes from Middlesbrough, pleaded with him not to give evidence against him.

Duberry admitted lying to police about the night student Sarfraz Najeib was kicked and beaten senseless in Leeds city centre.

He told Hull Crown Court he had later wanted to change his statement but club solicitor Peter McCormick - a director of the club in charge of discipline - advised him to stick with his story.

Duberry said that after deciding to "come clean" and give evidence on Tuesday, he called Woodgate, who is accused of taking part in the attack, into a side room at the court.

Woodgate's counsel, David Sumner, said: "That was when you told him you were going to shop him, in effect?"

Duberry said: "I didn't use the word shop. This is hard for me because he has been my best mate at the club.

"'Woody', I said, 'I'm giving evidence and I'm going to tell it like it is'. He was shocked. He asked me not to do it."

Duberry said he had not told Woodgate earlier because he had been "umming and aahing" over whether to give evidence.

He said he could not remember telling Woodgate that he did not want to go to prison, but he might have done.

Duberry has said Woodgate admitted to him that he had been in a fight with Asians on the night of the attack.

He lied initially to protect Woodgate, his best friend at the club.

He had given Woodgate and friends a lift home after the assault, despite telling police they had arrived there in a taxi. "It was a lie," said Duberry.

"I did not want to say anything that would get Woody into any more trouble."

A month after the attack, he went to see Mr McCormick and told him he wanted to change his statement.

"I told him I knew what it was about and I wanted to change what I wanted to say and he advised me not to," said Duberry.

"He used the word perjury and said, 'Say what is in your statement and stick with it'."

Duberry told his counsel, Claire Montgomery, that the police had given him a chance to change his statement.

Ms Montgomery: "But you didn't."

Duberry: "No."

Ms Montgomery: "Why not?"

Duberry: "Because Mr McCormick advised me to stay with my same statement."

Mr Najeib, 20, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, suffered serious injuries including a broken leg and fractured cheekbone.

England international Wood-gate, 21, of Middlesbrough, Leeds United midfielder Lee Bowyer, 24, of Leeds, Neale Caveney and Paul Clifford, both 21, of Middlesbrough, deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Najeib. They also deny affray.

Duberry, Woodgate, Clifford and Caveney also deny conspiracy to pervert the course of justice after the attack.

The trial was adjourned until today