Sunderland’s Johnson admits child sex charge --AFP

The winger denies two charges of sexual activity with a girl aged under 16 PHOTO: BBC

Sunderland’s England international winger Adam Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child and one count of grooming at his under-age sex trial on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old player, capped 12 times by England, continues to deny two other charges of sexual activity with a girl aged under 16.

Johnson appeared in the dock at Bradford Crown Court in northern England wearing a black suit and white tie. He was accompanied by a female police officer.

He was initially suspended by Sunderland following his arrest in March last year, but has since returned to action and scored in their 2-2 draw at Liverpool in the Premier League last Saturday.

Johnson began his career with Middlesbrough and returned to his native northeast in 2012 when he joined Sunderland from Manchester City in a £10 million ($15.3 million, 13.7 million euros) deal.