Footballer Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has denied a charge of importing class B drugs as he appeared in court charged with attempting to smuggle £600,000 of cannabis through Stansted Airport.

The 33-year-old striker was sacked by Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton following his arrest last month.

The former Livingston, Aberdeen and Arsenal academy product appeared before Chelmsford Crown Court via video link from HMP Durham on Friday and pleaded not guilty to importing class B drugs.

He is accused, along with co-defendants Rosie Rowland and Yasmin Piotrowska, of the alleged crime between July 1 and September 2 this year.

Rowland, 28, of Southend Road, Chelmsford, and Piotrowska, 33, of Purves Road, north-west London, both also pleaded not guilty to the charge when they appeared in the the court.

Former Arsenal striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has appeared in court to deny a charge of importing Class B drugs into the UK.

£600,000 worth of cannabis found in suitcases at Stansted Airport

Emmanuel-Thomas, of Cardwell Road in Gourock, Inverclyde, was arrested in the town by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers last month and was questioned before being remanded in custody.

The footballer, who wore a gray prison tracksuit and was benched for the court hearing, has also played for Ipswich Town, Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers and Thai side PTT Rayong.

His arrest came after the NCA seized around £600,000 of the Class B drug as it was being smuggled through Stansted on September 2.

Border Force officers detected approximately 60kg of the drug in two suitcases, which arrived on a flight from Bangkok, Thailand.

Emmanuel-Thomas (centre) won the FA Youth Cup with Arsenal in 2009 alongside Jack Wilshere (left) and Sanchez Watt (right)

A trial, expected to last five to seven days, is to be held at a date to be determined, with a new case management hearing scheduled for January 6.

Judge Christopher Morgan remanded Emmanuel-Thomas in custody and bailed Rowland and Piotrowska until then.

He said the trial could tentatively take place in May.