Robert Huth managed to play a full 90 minutes for Stoke City on the weekend just a week after being diagnosed with mild meningitis. The German centre-back was feeling ill during the clubs pre-season trip to the USA and believes the viral infection kicked in on the flight home but he somehow managed to get himself up to contribute to the Potters' 1-1 opening day draw at Reading.
"I didn't feel particularly great while we were out there," said Huth.
"On the flight going home, I could feel it getting worse and worse - and 35,000ft up in the sky is not a great place to be when your health is going downhill rapidly.
"When we got home, I had a couple of days off but it wasn't getting any better. And when I had a stinking headache and became highly sensitive to light, the club booked me into hospital for tests - and they kept me in for four nights.
"I never gave up hope of being fit for the start of the season but the odds were stacked against me and, if Matty Upson had been fit, I think he would have played instead of me.
"I've only trained twice properly since I came out of hospital, so I am pleased to get through the whole 90 minutes on one of the hottest days of the year."
