SAINTS striker Lee Barnard has been released on bail again after being quizzed by detectives over an assault in a city nightspot.

The 26-year-old was spoken to by police yesterday after answering bail for the first time since he was arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Barnard, who has been at Southampton Football Club since January this year, has undergone surgery after suffering a severe injury to his hand during the trouble that erupted at the White House bar.

Police were called to the venue shortly before 3am where they found a man who appeared to have been glassed, bleeding outside.

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The victim was a member of the local professional boxing circuit and was accompanied by his friend, champion cage fighter Tom Watson. The pair had been with others at an event night in Wahoo bar in the High Street earlier in the evening where a re-run of Watson's recent victory with Alex Reid was shown.

Barnard was one of four men arrested on suspicion of assault. He has now been bailed to return to a police station on December 10. The other three men, aged 31, 26, and 25 will also reappear on that date.