George Best has undergone further treatment in hospital to prevent the spread of infection following his liver transplant.

He was readmitted to the Cromwell Hospital in London last weekend with a complication related to a local infection.

Speaking on Friday, the hospital's consultant physician, Professor Roger Williams, confirmed the former Manchester United and Northern Ireland star had been treated for a "little leak" of bile.

Best, aged 56, is now said to be doing well.

Best hopes to have children with his wife, Alex

Professor Williams said the condition was a well recognised complication with liver transplants.

"It's one of the things that has to be dealt with if it develops. It's happened and now it's controlled.

"I saw him last night and he is in good spirits and feeling better - no pain," he said.

"Liver operations do have technical complications in the first month. If you don't have any then you're extremely lucky but usually patients have one or other technical problems.

"George had this particular problem which was a pity because he had just got out of hospital and had sailed through it."

Confirming the Northern Ireland man was now doing well, the consultant said: "He's got quite a sparkle in his eye again."

Blood Transfusion

Best, who needed the operation following years of heavy drinking, is expected to stay in the hospital for a number of days.

He was given a new liver during a 10-hour operation on 29 July and haemorrhaged so badly that he needed 40 pints of blood to survive.

He had been waiting about eight months for a new liver and was warned that he would die if he ever drank again.

Best, who now works as a television soccer pundit, received thousands of messages of support some people questioned whether he deserved the transplant.

Hitting back, the former European Footballer of the Year said he knew he would never drink again.

He added: "I would never say to anybody you don't deserve to live, no matter who they are.

"As for calling this self-inflicted, I didn't decide one day that I would drink myself to death. It is as a result of alcoholism."

Best spoke of his gratitude to the anonymous donor and said he hoped to have children with his wife, Alex, in the near future.