Two drunken revellers who savagely attacked a man in Bradford city centre were locked up overnight to be sentenced by a judge.

Maciez Malacha was found lying in a pool of blood after he was beaten unconscious outside Funkys Nightclub in Ivegate, Bradford Crown Court was told today.

Talented footballer Jamie Sugden admitted punching Mr Malacha once and stamping five times on his head.

Sugden, 26, who plays for Bradford Park Avenue reserves, had been out on the town celebrating his birthday, the court was told. In the dock with him was Adam Hodgson, 22, whose powerful uppercut knocked Mr Malacha, a Polish national, to the ground.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC watched CCTV footage of the pair setting about Mr Malacha then walking off leaving him motionless on the ground. The judge said Hodgson delivered “a mighty blow that felled him like a tree”.

He said Mr Malacha could have been killed in the attack.

Sugden, of Farfield Road, Wibsey, Bradford, and Hodgson, of Shetcliffe Lane, Bierley, Bradford, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Malacha and causing him actual bodily harm shortly after 5am on February 7 last year.

Prosecutor Paul Nicholson said the CCTV cameras tracked Sugden and Hodgson and they were arrested near Forster Square railway station.

Mr Malacha was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary. He had lacerations to his head, black eyes and a swollen nose. He discharged himself from hospital after 24 hours.

Sugden told police he was out drinking to celebrate his 25th birthday. Hodgson said he had downed ten pints of beer and three Jack Daniels whiskies.

Rob Casey, solicitor advocate for Sugden, said he was a family man who had stopped binge-drinking. He worked as a window-cleaner and played football at the weekend.

He was very sorry for the attack on Mr Malacha.

The court heard that Hodgson was also a family man, who ran a garage business. He too was very remorseful.

Judge Durham Hall remanded the men into custody for sentencing tomorrow. He asked the Crown to find out if Mr Malacha had suffered any permanent medical or psychological damage.

The judge branded it “a premeditated, gratuitous, attack” and warned the defendants to expect jail sentences.