But the £10million-rated defender, who was cleared of causing grievous bodily harm, and team-mate Lee Bowyer, who was acquitted of GBH and affray, were left facing legal bills in excess of £1million each.

Tonight the club said Woodgate, 21, who was ordered to do 100 hours community punishment, and Bowyer are to be allowed to continue playing for the Premiership team. But they would not get help with their legal bills.

The England defender's friend Paul Clifford, who bit his victim's cheek during the attack, was jailed for six years by Mr Justice Henriques after being found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm and affray during the 'shocking and violent crime'.

Another friend of Woodgate's, Neale Caveney, was also ordered to do 100 hours community punishment after he was found guilty of affray but cleared of causing GBH at Hull Crown Court.

Woodgate, of Middlesbrough, Bowyer, 24, of Leeds, and Paul Clifford and Neale Caveney, both 22 and from Middlesbrough, all denied causing Sarfraz Najeib grievous bodily harm and affray.

The 21-year-old student was left with injuries including a broken nose and cheekbone and a fractured leg.

Sentencing Clifford, Mr Justice Henriques said rarely could 'anyone have been convicted on such overwhelming evidence'.

'This was a shocking and violent crime. Five young men attacking a young student defenceless on the ground. The other four remain unidentified. You have only yourselves to blame for that.

'The group of five broke Sarfraz Najeib's leg. They broke his cheek. They broke his nose. You then plunged your teeth into his face and shook him like a dog, scarring him for life.'

The trial judge said that while the victim lay unconscious he was stamped on and kicked.

'Each one of those who played a part is responsible for the conduct of the other. Sarfraz used to play sport and badminton. He does not now. He has pain in his ankle even after standing some 20 to 25 minutes.

'This was a crime committed in the street of a city a public place with decent citizens actually put in fear.'

The prosecution alleged that Mr Najeib and his friends were chased through the city centre following a confrontation outside the Majestyk nightclub.

The Leeds Metropolitan University student, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was caught in Mill Hill where he was attacked.

Woodgate, Clifford and Caveney told the jury they took no part in the attack. They claimed to have watched an incident from the top of Mill Hill.

Former England under-21 captain Bowyer, who was the nation's most expensive teenage footballer when he signed for Leeds, told Hull Crown Court he did not enter Mill Hill that night because he was assaulted in Boar Lane and was left dazed before making his way back to the Majestyk.

The jury of seven women and five men first retired to consider its verdicts on Monday afternoon after an eight week re-trial. They deliberated for over 22 hours before returning the verdicts.

The first trial collapsed after an article in a Sunday newspaper. The cost of both trials has been estimated at £15million.

Woodgate, dressed in a smart grey suit, sat with his arms folded and remained impassive except for a slight shrug when he was found guilty of affray.

His father Alan, 56, a plumber, and sister Stephanie left the court in tears.

Dark-suited Bowyer leaned forward intently next to his team-mate in the dock as the jury foreman returned the first verdicts, including clearing the 24-year-old of grievous bodily harm with intent.

Clifford, a former amateur boxing champion, swore after being found guilty of both charges while his girlfriend, who gave birth to a baby girl two months ago, sobbed in the public gallery.

His friend Caveney muttered under his breath after being found guilty of affray.

It was revealed that Woodgate was earning £13,000 a week without bonuses shortly due to increase to £15,250 with additional bonuses of £50,000 depending on the number of first team appearances.

His barrister, David Fish, said however that the financial burden of his costs were well over £1 million - the cost of the two trials.

Addressing both Woodgate and Caveney, the trial judge said: 'Five young students were caused sheer terror as they were pursued through the streets running for their lives.

'By joining in that chase, you were terrifying both them and other law-abiding members of the community.'

He told the pair that the maximum prison sentence permitted for the crime of affray was three years.

But he continued: 'The submission is well made that a young man of good character in ordinary circumstances would be most unlikely to lose his liberty for this crime as a first offence in an affray when no violence was carried out in the affray itself.

'Prominent in the mitigation for both of you is the fact for two years you have faced the possibility of a long prison sentence.

'You have spent six months of your life in court and it is right to say that each of you has impressed everyone in this building with your courteousness.'

Addressing Woodgate, the judge added: 'It has been obvious to everyone that you have suffered through the currency of this trial, agonies, and that is etched upon your face. It is right you are not over-confident and brash.

'I do in your case bear in mind the huge financial burden of the cost,' he added.

The trial judge refused an application for costs by Bowyer, said by his counsel to be more than £1million.

The judge said that throughout police interviews when Bowyer had been arrested on suspicion of taking part in the assault on Mr Najeib, the footballer had lied.

'His interviews in my judgment were littered with lies,' he said.

He added: "A refusal of the defendant's costs order does not in any way mean the defendant is guilty of the crime."

Jonathan Woodgate left Hull Crown Court with his solicitor Nick Freeman who read a statement on his client's behalf. He said: 'It started with a fist and what followed thereafter will remain the subject of speculation for many years to come.

'This trial has proved a tremendous ordeal not only for Jonathan Woodgate, but also for the Najeib family, with whom Jonathan has every sympathy.

'Jonathan is a 21-year-old professional footballer of outstanding talent and outstanding ability who wishes to put this episode of his life behind him and resume his full professional career as soon as possible.'

The victim of the attack was said to be 'absolutely disappointed and shattered' by the jury's verdicts.

His father Muhammed, 47, who broke the news to him, said: 'This is not the end of the matter. I intend to fight on for justice.'

Speaking at a press conference after the trial, Leeds United chairman Peter Ridsdale confirmed that the manager would be allowed to pick the players.

He said: 'Despite the fact we do not take lightly that he (Woodgate) has been found guilty of affray and we will be taking our own disciplinary action as a result of that, we have decided that in both cases, Lee and Jonathan, will be made available to David O'Leary.'