Nile Ranger (L) made 51 appearances for Newcastle United (Reuters)
Nile Ranger (L) made 51 appearances for Newcastle United (Reuters)

Former Newcastle United striker Nile Ranger has been charged with rape by Northumbria police

The 22-year-old has been accused of raping a woman at a hotel in Newcastle.

The striker was arrested at his home in Forest Hall, North Tyneside and released on police bail. He is due to appear before Newcastle Magistrates Court on 21 August.

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "A rape was reported to police and relates to an incident which happened in the early hours of January 23 at a hotel in Jesmond.

"Nile Ranger, 22, has been charged with rape."

Ranger, originally of Harringay, north London, left Newcastle United in March by mutual consent after making 51 appearances for the club.

He has also had loan spells for Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday but is currently without a club.

He has been capped 11 times at England under-19s level, scoring on his first international start against Bosnia.