Bolton boss Megson admits players hit by swine flu

Bolton Wanderers boss Gary Megson admits members of his own squad have been hit by swine flu.

Bolton's opponents in the Carling Cup fourth round on Wednesday night are Chelsea, whose last match was against Blackburn in the Premier League on Saturday.

Since then it has emerged that swine flu had broken out in the Blackburn camp in the week leading up to the game at Stamford Bridge, with Sam Allardyce suggesting there was a chance the virus could have been passed on to Chelsea's players.

But Megson - who has already seen four of his own players come down with and recover from the virus - insisted he was not concerned about it spreading during a match.

Asked if he was worried about his players coming into contact with Chelsea's, Megson said: "Not from that perspective because I've heard varying opinions and I think the one we all need to listen to is that from the medical people, who are saying that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to contract it in that way.

"From our own point of view, you're not going to be a business with quite a few employees and it totally escapes you.

"You are going to get one or two with swine flu and I think on the playing staff I think we have had five, four players and one member of staff. You try and do your best to avoid it but I would imagine it's near enough impossible.

"They are all okay at the moment, but it wouldn't be right to start giving you names."