A DERRY soccer player is fighting for his life following a serious assault in the city at the weekend.
Niall Grace, who plays for Institute Football Club, was attacked in Waterloo Street at 12.45am on Sunday.
A 22-year-old man is due before the city's magistrates court on Monday charged with GBH with intent in relation to the attack.
The assault happened as thousands of people were in the city for the Club MTV event at Ebrington Square.
Police have appealed for witnesses to the attack.
Mr Grace, from the Shantallow area of Derry, was taken to Altnagelvin Hospital in the city and later transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where his condition was described as "critical".
Institute FC issued a statement saying: "Our thoughts and prayers are with Niall Grace as he is critically ill in hospital after being assaulted in the city centre last night."
A message posted on the Twitter page of Institute's official fan club also said: "All our thoughts and prayers are with Niall Grace. We are all with you big man."
A former pupil of Lumen Christi College in Derry, Mr Grace signed with the club last December having formerly played in the Milk Cup and as a schoolboy international.
Detective Constable Stephen Riddell said: "We are conducting enquiries and are requesting the public's assistance to help determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
"Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should contact Detectives at Strand Road Station".
