England footballer Adam Johnson will appear before a judge on child sex charges.
The 27-year-old Sunderland winger will appear at Durham Crown Court for a case management hearing ahead of a trial at the end of this month.
Johnson, from Castle Eden, Co Durham, has already denied three counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of grooming.
Born in Sunderland, Johnson began his career at Middlesbrough before moving to Manchester City and then Sunderland for £10 million in 2012.