Flu victims told to stay away as boss fears epidemic (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Flu victims told to stay away as boss fears epidemic

TOWN'S growing band of flu victims have been quarantined to prevent a County Ground epidemic.

The virus has struck Charlie Comyn-Platt, Matty Bulman, Gareth Whalley and Rory Fallon although the latter climbed out of his sick bed to score the winner at Rotherham on Saturday.

Manager Iffy Onuora fears the outbreak could decimate his small first-team squad so he told those already infected to stay away from training yesterday to prevent any further germ spreading.

The Town boss said: "The ones that didn't play on Saturday worked hard in training, but we took the others to the gym we didn't want them doing anything too strenuous.

"We've got a little bit of a bug in the camp which is another reason we didn't want to push them too hard.

"Rory's had it, so has Charlie, Gareth Whalley and Matty Bulman.

"It is a worry when you get something like that in the camp because one or two players with it can quickly become seven or eight and that would have a major impact on a small squad like ours.

"I was concerned about Matty Bulman sharing a room with Rhys Evans the night before the Rotherham game for example, so those lads have not been in for training."

The quartet should all be fit to face Oldham at the weekend after some further bed rest. The only other fitness concern is Christian Roberts who picked up a knock after coming on as a second-half substitute at Millmoor.

Onuora was missing an entire back four through suspension for the gritty 1-0 win which lifted Town off the foot of League One.

A makeshift defence and system using Stefani Miglioranzi at sweeper earned a first clean sheet since mid-October.

With the likes of Sean O'Hanlon, Steve Jenkins and Andy Gurney back in contention for the trip to Oldham, Onuora could have some selection dilemmas. But that is a welcome problem.

He said: "I knew Stef could play in that position and that he had played there before.

"It's not necessarily something we will do every week, but it's nice to have that option if we need it.

"All the lads that came in did very well and have given me food for thought.

"I don't mind that. My biggest concern is keeping everyone fit and well.

"If I can do that I will have some tough decisions to make for the next game, but that's okay that's what I'm paid for. I'd rather have that situation than having to pick players who are out of form."