34-year-old goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown has been denied the opportunity to sign for Championship club Fulham due to missing the loan transfer window deadline.

The ex-Leeds United goalkeeper had hoped to sign for The Cottagers following Marcus Bettinelli's red card against Watford, which earned the England U-21 international a suspension.

Ashdown left Crawley Town by mutual consent at the end of November and was looking forward to plying his trade in England's second division again - but found his move foiled by Football League transfer rules.

"I'm really gutted not to have the chance to come up against Leeds and show my wares in the Championship again," Ashdown told Press Association Sport, as quoted by Eurosport.

"After the injury last year I fought so hard to get back to fitness and was delighted to prove my fitness and then with the unbeaten results with Crawley.

"Fulham would have been a fantastic opportunity to show what I'm capable of and playing against Leeds, where I never really had a look in, would have been the icing on the cake."

Ashdown played for Leeds United for over two years, but injury restricted him to just eight first-team appearances and he was released this summer, joining Crawley just after. He kept four consecutive clean sheets in his first four games for John Gregory's side.