Fulham manager Chris Coleman placed himself in quarantine ahead of tonight’s Craven Cottage clash with Tottenham to avoid a repeat of the illness that led to him being hospitalised almost two years ago.
Coleman had to undergo an operation at the start of 2004 after developing blood poisoning following a virus.
The bug affected the leg he had shattered in the car accident that ended his playing career and eventually surgeons had to remove a metal pin.
So when the man known at the club as Cookie was laid low once again he quickly removed himself from the Motspur Park training ground to protect himself and his players.
Assistant manager Steve Kean said: ‘He has remembered the last time when he had a heavy virus that was not properly looked after and developed into blood poisoning because of the operations he has had on his legs.
‘So any time he gets a virus he has to be very careful, dose up on anti-biotics and stay away from the lads. He has been watching training sessions from the lounge and then gone back to bed.
‘I’m sure he will be at the game but the way his immune system is with his leg he always has to be careful.’