Towey reveals squad hit by sickness bug before Tadcaster match

Taken from Widnes Weekly News

Kev Towey revealed the extraordinary sick-list Widnes are battling against following their dramatic 2-2 draw at Mossley in midweek.

Towey is hopeful of a return to form once his stars have recovered.

"We've got to look and take stock because at the minute there's a bug in the camp," the player-manager explained.

"I know it sounds stupid and I know it sounds like an excuse but we've had 10 - whether it be players or backroom staff - out of our 25 suffering from this flu-type virus.

"They're bedridden. This has been going on for two weeks and every week we're getting more and more players.

"On Tuesday we started without our normal centre-back, normal left-back, goalkeeper Owen Wheeler was at death's door and Sam Sheen was just coming back.

"I do accept that is weakening us but the squad should be good enough, or we felt the squad should be good enough.

"It's disappointing it's a bit up and down but I just hope once we get a clean bill of health we can get back on track."

Widnes welcome Tadcaster Albion this weekend in what will be just their second home game of the season.

FA Cup involvement - plus opposition sides featuring in their own respective cup competitions - has meant just one of Widnes' opening eight matches have been at the Halton Stadium.