(Reuters) – Perth Glory ahead Daniel Sturridge stated his absence from Friday’s sport in opposition to Western United was on account of a scarcity of health and never, as proprietor Tony Sage had recommended, the results of a cross-country flight to Melbourne.
Sage informed SEN radio that the ex-England striker, who joined Perth in October and continues to be to make his first A-League begin, had informed coach Richard Garcia he couldn’t play within the match quickly after the crew’s arrival.
“Richie stated it within the post-match presser, he isn’t used to a four-and-a-half-hour flight to a sport, he is simply not used to it,” stated Sage.
“He pulled up on the aircraft somewhat bit crampy.”
Former Liverpool striker Sturridge needed to full two weeks resort quarantine upon his arrival in Australia earlier than making his first look for Glory as a late substitute in a 1-1 draw with Adelaide United final week.
He had not performed a aggressive sport within the 21 months since his contract with Turkey’s Trabzonspor was cancelled.
“It is a lengthy season so please be affected person as we construct my health up, which was all the time the plan,” Sturridge tweeted on Monday. “A four-hour flight would by no means cease me enjoying soccer.”
Perth chief govt Tony Pignata stated Garcia and the membership’s medical workers had made the decision on the ahead’s non-selection.
“Simply to place the file straight, it was not Daniel’s determination to not play final weekend,” Pignata wrote on Twitter.
“Like several participant, Daniel needed to play however we’ve got had a plan for Daniel earlier than he arrived to construct his health and combine him into the crew.
“He’ll play when deemed prepared by the medical crew and Richie.”
Garcia stated throughout their post-match information convention that Sturridge would take time to adapt to the challenges confronted by being based mostly on Australia’s west coast.
“Simply travelling alone, the distances we journey in Perth is a brand new expertise for him,” he stated. “It would not matter how good you might be as a participant you are still an individual and you continue to want time to adapt.”
(Reporting by Michael Church, Modifying by Peter Rutherford)
