A friend of former Norwich City star James Maddison has told a court he was acting in self-defence when he punched and fractured the cheekbone of a man in a group that was allegedly 'taking the mick' out of the midfielder on a night out in Norwich.

Nathan Cadby, 21, told Ipswich Crown Court that he hit James Brown but had done so as 'I thought he was going to punch me or headbutt me or something'.

Cadby denies inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Brown.

Mr Maddison played for Norwich City and was on loan to Aberdeen at the time of the alleged incident on October 9 2016.

He currently plays for Leicester City.

Self-employed carpenter Cadby, of Turner Road, Coventry, said he was on a night out in Norwich with Mr Maddison and others during an international football break.

They were returning from the VIP area of Mantra nightclub to Mr Maddison's apartment when the footballer 'stopped and was speaking to these three lads at the bus stop', Cadby told jurors on Tuesday.

He told the court he went to hurry Mr Maddison up and saw he 'looked like he sort of had had an argument'.

'They was still sort of throwing words at each other,' Cadby said. 'I think they were just taking the mick out of him as he had been on loan and stuff.'

Cadby said Mr Brown stood up 'towards' him, he feared he was going to be attacked so he punched Mr Brown once.

The defendant said he was up to 'eight out of 10' drunk at the time.

Jonathan Goodman, defending, asked: 'Were you in control of your thoughts and actions?'

'I would like to think so, yes,' he replied. 'My judgment could have been misled.'

John Morgans, prosecuting, asked Cadby if Mr Maddison had showed other people his £800 shoes that night.

Cadby said he had done so in Mantra nightclub, and that Mr Maddison had 'got into disputes' with people on nights out before.

'He may bring up how much he earns, how much his trainers are worth, that he's a professional footballer,' Cadby said.

'He does tend to boast quite a lot.'

Mr Morgans put it to Cadby that Mr Maddison started the interaction at the bus stop.

'I'm not sure who's started it,' he said.

Cadby, who has no previous convictions, denied that he slapped Mr Brown before he stood up.

Asked by Mr Morgans why he did not grab Mr Maddison and take him away from the bus stop, he said: 'Looking back on the night, that would have been the sensible thing to do.'

The trial continues.