Two young Donegal men have been charged in connection with an alleged assault  in Australia.

Emergency services were called to an intersection at Summerhill, a suburb of Sydney in the early hours of Saturday morning, where they found a 66-year-old man lying at the side of the road.

He was treated at the scene by ambulance paramedics before being taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital where he remains in a critical condition.

Officers arrested the two young Irish men - 24-year-old Christopher McLaughlin from Malin and 21-year-old Nathan Kelly from Glengad - nearby.

They were taken to Burwood Police Station where they were charged with "reckless grievous bodily harm in company and affray".

Their case was later heard briefly at Parramatta Bail Court where they didn't apply for bail.

They're due to appear in court again on January 9th.

New South Wales Police say the two Irish men were not known to the injured man.