Sterling denies throwing sickie to force through Man City move

New Manchester City signing Raheem Sterling insists he was only following medical advice when he missed two days of Liverpool training.

Sterling was widely criticised for missing training, with the majority view being that he was trying to force through a move to Manchester City. 

The winger failed to attend two days of Liverpool training, and shortly afterwards a deal was agreed with City to sign the player for £44million, plus £5million of possible add-ons. 

However, Sterling says that accusations he was 'pulling a sickie' are wide of the mark. Instead, he claims he had an upset stomach and was advised by medical staff to stay away from the training ground so as not to pass on his bug to other members of Brendan Rodgers' squad.

"Everyone thought I threw a sicknote in," Sterling told the Manchester Evening News. "I was in training on the Tuesday - in the changing room my stomach started hurting. I still went out and trained though.

"That day I went home, and I told the doc I was ill. My stomach was rumbling and I had diarrhoea.

"The doctor just said to me you can't be around the other players. For the next 48 hours, I stayed at home.

"That's what the club doctor told me to do. When that 48 hours was done I came back to training as normal."

Sterling has yet to make his Manchester City debut but has joined the squad on their preseason tour in Australia.