NEWCASTLE United defender Danny Simpson said yesterday that he was “OK” after footage was posted online showing him apparently unconscious and bleeding in the street.

The 26-year-old was on a night out in his home city of Manchester when he was allegedly caught up in a fight.

Footage showed the ex-Manchester United player bleeding from the mouth and lying in the street outside a takeaway.

Some people nearby stopped to help and put him in the recovery position.

One is heard saying: “Call the police,” while a woman says: “There’s blood coming out of his mouth.” At least two people were filming the scene on mobile phones. Another witness can be heard saying: “Someone has just absolutely battered him.”

According to reports, he had been punched to the ground, and was later taken to hospital.

The player seemed to back up the story yesterday, when he tweeted: “For the record, im okay, 2 on 1 well done!” He also sent his bodybuilder father, Peter Samms, a message on Twitter saying: “where was you lol... For the record im okay.”

Simpson’s profile has been raised since it was revealed that he had started dating X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos.

Police were not at first thought to be investigating the 4am incident but later Greater Manchester Police said inquiries were under way. A force spokeswoman said: “At about 4.30am on Sunday, 3 February 2013, paramedics called police to a report of an assault on St Ann Street. The man suffered a cut lip but when officers spoke to him he did not wish to make a complaint. However inquiries are ongoing.”

Newcastle United did not want to comment on the incident yesterday.

Simpson joined Newcastle from Manchester United in 2009, initially on loan for six months before then joining on a permanent basis in 2010. He has played 120 games for United, scoring one goal, but recently lost his place to French international right back Mathieu Debuchy.

He also played for Sunderland, Ipswich Town and Blackburn Rovers and Royal Antwerp in Belgium earlier in his career.