Jonathan Woodgate and his family do not wish to make any comment

Peter Ridsdale

"He will not be available for the remainder of this season. Jonathan Woodgate and his family do not wish to make any comment."

Woodgate, who is currently recovering in Middlesbrough General Hospital, was supposed to be in court on Wednesday for a driving offence.

The attack was not reported to police and details only emerged when Woodgate's solicitor said the player could not appear because he was due to undergo an operation.

In his absence Woodgate was banned from driving for six months after being caught doing 91 mph on the A1 near Dishforth, North Yorkshire, on 14 July last year.

It was the second time he had received the punishment in a fortnight, having been convicted on 28 March of doing 97 mph on the A19 near Thirsk.

He had planned to appeal against the earlier verdict, but following Wednesday's hearing his lawyer Nick Freeman said: "Jonathan accepts the sentence of the court and does not intend to pursue his other appeal. If it were successful it would be a Pyrrhic victory."

Drunken behaviour

The former England defender has already been told he will not be considered for this summer's World Cup finals because of his conduct off the pitch.

Sarfraz Najeib plans to sue Woodgate, Bowyer and the club

Both Woodgate and team-mate Lee Bowyer, who was cleared of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and of affray at last year's Najeib trial, were disciplined by Leeds United.

The club said their drunken behaviour had breached the club's code of conduct.

Leeds United also ordered Woodgate to move from Middlesbrough to Leeds, but he has not yet met the demand.

The family of Sarfraz Najeib rejected the trial verdict and said they planned to seek damages against Woodgate and Bowyer, three other men and the club.

Woodgate also faces costs estimated at �1m.