LONDON (AFP) - 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 north-east in 2012 when he joined Sunderland from Manchester City in a £10 million (S$20.2 million) deal.