Blackburn Rovers striker David Goodwillie punched a man ‘five or six times’ during an assault on a night out.

Goodwillie repeatedly hit John Friel near a Japanese restaurant in Glasgow, the city’s Sheriff Court was told.

Yesterday the 23-year-old had been due to stand trial for the assault, but changed his plea to guilty.

The court heard Goodwillie lashed out after his then Dundee United club-mate Danny Swanson was knocked unconscious by Friel.

He had been on a night out with fellow Tannadice players at the city's Karbon nightclub before they went to the nearby Oko Express restaurant in the early hours of November 3 2010.

Friel, 22, who was not known to the footballers, interfered as Danny Swanson took a photo of a team-mate with a customer, the court was told.

This sparked a confrontation outside and Friel punched midfielder Swanson out cold leaving him on the ground for five minutes.

Prosecutor Joe Stewart told how Goodwillie came to his friend's aid before learning Friel had been the culprit.

Mr Stewart said: “The accused made his way across Queen Street to approach Friel. He was partially restrained by a friend, but managed to break away losing his shirt in the process.”

The footballer smacked Friel before punching him five or six more times on the head and body.

The court was told Goodwillie, who moved to Blackburn last August, also aimed a kicked before Friel staggered away whilst managing to fall over a bin.

Mr Stewart said Goodwillie appeared “emotional” before police turned up and detained the Scotland star and a number of others.

Friel was given 240 hours of community service last August after he admitted the assault on Mr Swanson.

Goodwillie's QC Donald Findlay said Friel's attack that night was “cowardly and brutal”.

Mr Findlay told how Mr Swanson had a medical condition which had his friends fearing his life could be in danger after being hit.

The advocate said Goodwillie was “clearly very angry” at what had happened and confronted Friel who he said was standing about “bold as brass”.

Mr Findlay said: “Mr Goodwillie accepts that this type of behaviour was not justified.

“It was largely driven by genuine concern for his friend who was in some distress.

"His (Swanson's) life, for all that was known, could have been at risk.”

The court also heard that Goodwillie was fined in 2009 after he admitted attacking a rugby player following a row at a nightclub car park in Stirlingshire.

Sheriff Stuart Reid was about to impose a 100-hour community payback order for this latest incident.

But, he had to retract his decision when informed the offence pre-dated when such orders came into force.

The sheriff told Goodwillie the alternative to custody was community service – but he would require reports before sentencing.

It means Goodwillie will return to the dock later this month.

The striker signed for Blackburn Rovers in August for £2.8million but has scored just two Premier League goals. In October he scored his first international goal for Scotland in a 3-1 defeat to World Cup winners Spain.

The footballer made no comment as he left court.

Blackburn Rovers also declined to comment.