Former Manchester United winger and current Wales boss Ryan Giggs has appeared in court to be handed a trial date following accusations he assaulted his ex-girlfriend.

Giggs allegedly headbutted Kate Greville at his home in Greater Manchester in November last year, while the accusations also include controlling and coercive behaviour over a period of almost three years between 2017-2020.

BBC now report that the 47-year-old has been told he will return to court on 24 January 2021 as the trial begins, though he’ll also attend a plea and trial preparation hearing in the meantime on July 23.

Giggs is also facing charges of assault against his ex-girlfriend’s younger sister – an allegation spawned from the same incident – though the former United man denies all of the claims made against him which include violence, isolation, belittling, humiliation, harassment, degradation and abuse.

The report adds that the court was told the crown are yet to ‚particularise the indictment‘ with regards to the accusation of controlling and coercive behaviour.

Giggs has remained steadfast in his claims he is innocent ever since the accusations were brought to light, claiming in a previous statement that he would ‚look forward to clearing my name‘.

Judge Nicholas Dean QC has revealed three weeks have been set aside for the trial in January, though he hopes such a time frame won’t be necessary.

„I very much hope that this case will not last that amount of time, but that’ll be discussed further on the next occasion this case is listed,“ he said.

Giggs has been bailed until he appears in court once again in July, though the Welsh FA have already announced that he will not be taking charge of his country at this summer’s delayed Euro 2020 finals, with Robert Page handed the role on an interim basis.