Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has requested more time to respond to his FA misconduct charge, report Sky Sports.
The 29-year-old had until 6pm (GMT) on Tuesday to reply, but has now asked for a delay in proceedings, with the player’s representatives “seeking more time from the independent judicial panel in order to answer the charge.”
Sturridge has told Liverpool that he “categorically has never gambled on football”.
The judicial panel will now discuss the striker’s request, deciding whether or not to grant it.
Sturridge’s charge relates to alleged betting breaches, rumoured to be linked with a potential move to Inter Milan back in January.
He was tipped to join the Serie A giants at the time, but ended up moving to West Brom instead.
A disappointing, injury-plagued spell at the Hawthorns fizzled out and he eventually returned to Liverpool for pre-season.
Having seemingly been deemed surplus to requirements by Jurgen Klopp, Sturridge has enjoyed a new lease of life at Anfield this season.
He has four goals to his name and has been a handy option from the substitutes’ bench, scoring a superb late equaliser at Chelsea in September.
Whether he features at Watford on Saturday, considering the distraction of the current situation, remains to be seen.
