Manchester City goalkeeper Khiara Keating charged with possession of nitrous oxide cannisters

England and Manchester City goalkeeper Khiara Keating has appeared in court accused of possession of cannisters of nitrous oxide.

Keating, 20, stood in the dock at Manchester Magistrates' Court alongside her mother, Nicola Keating, 48, jointly charged with possession of the Class C drug, more widely known as laughing gas, in Manchester on 18 June last month.

Wearing a black trouser-suit and trainers, City keeper Keating, who was called up to the England squad last season but has yet to make her international debut, spoke only to confirm her name and address.

She was asked to indicate a plea and replied "not guilty", as did her mother.

The charge is an "either way" offence and can be heard by magistrates or at a crown court before a jury. Both women chose to have their case heard before magistrates.

Jonathan Potter, prosecuting, said the women are accused of the possession of nitrous oxide cannisters for wrongful inhalation, an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Magistrates granted Keating and her mother unconditional bail and adjourned the case until 10 September back at the same court for a district judge to fix a date for trial.

Keating, of Ashton Old Road, east Manchester, kept nine clean sheets in 22 league games for City, who finished second to rivals Chelsea in the Women’s Super League title race last season.

She was originally on the books of Manchester United before being spotted by a City scout.

Nitrous oxide was made a Class C drug in the UK under the Misuse of Drugs Act last November, as part of the government’s anti-social behaviour action plan.

Possession of nitrous oxide, where a person intends to wrongfully inhale it for a psychoactive effect, is now an offence but it is still possible to use the gas for