Perth Glory chief executive Tony Pignata and Daniel Sturridge have set the record straight after claims by owner Tony Sage that the star signing ruled himself out of the club’s last game.

Sage claimed the former England and Liverpool striker had made his own decision not to play in Friday’s controversial 1-0 defeat to Western United at AAMI Park.

He claimed Sturridge was not used to a four-hour flight and had pulled up “a little bit crampy”.

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The comments seemed strange given the number of flights Sturridge has taken in his EPL and international career.

“Look, a lot of consultation goes ahead, and when I saw the team sheet I made the call to sound out why (Sturridge was left off),’ Sage told SEN.

“After a talk between the two, the player and the coach (Richard Garcia), he didn’t feel he could contribute.

“Richie said it in the post-match, he’s not used to a four-hour flight to a game.

“He pulled up on the plane a little bit crampy, when they did their walk and that he didn’t feel comfortable.

“‘He went up to Richie and said he might not be ready.”

Sage’s comments brought a storm of social media but Pignata has now stepped in.

“Just to put the record straight,” Pignata tweeted. “It was not Daniel’s decision not to play last weekend.

“Like any player Daniel wanted to play but we have had a plan for Daniel before he arrived to build his fitness and integrate him into the team.

“We want to have and will have the best Daniel Sturridge on the field when the time is right.

“Daniel has just recently finished two weeks in hotel quarantine and he has just started training with the squad.

“Last week, given it was a home game and a sell-out crowd Daniel played some minutes in front of our home fans.

“Daniel is no different than any other player. He will play when deemed ready by the medical team and Richie.”

Sturridge backed Pignata on Twitter, sharing the CEO’s Twitter post while adding that a four-hour flight would not have stopped him from playing.

“2weeks in quarantine was insane! I played last week to help the team and meet the fans which was (fire),” he said.

“It’s a long season so please be patient as we build my fitness up which was always the plan. A (four-hour) flight would never stop me playing football.”

Sturridge made his debut with a nine minute cameo in the 1-1 draw with Adelaide in round at HBF Park.

Garcia said Sturridge probably would not have featured if not for the occasion.

“We always had a plan for Daniel to build through.” Garcia said.

“Last week it was a ‘hello’ to our fans but he needs to be able to build nicely and continue to build his fitness.

“We want to make sure that we have him at the right time. We don’t want to bring him back for the start and then lose him for a long time.

“When he is ready, and we have got him to a point where we feel he is ready, he will be fantastic.”