Watford boss Roy Hodgson has revealed he's been suffering from shingles as he explained his absence from last week's media duties.

The Watford manager sported sunglasses in the dugout during his side's 2-1 home defeat to Burnley last weekend and allowed assistant coach Ray Lewington to take his place in the press conferences.

The 74-year-old, who received a CBE on Wednesday, revealed he is recovering from shingles – an infection that causes a painful rash.

“I'm suffering from shingles, so in actual fact I wasn't actually supposed to be at the game. I wasn't well for a start," said Hodgson, who confirmed on Wednesday that Watford will be his final job of a 46-year managerial career.

“I'm still not well, it really doesn't go away in a couple of days but I'm working and trying to get to it.

“My eye is 10 times better than it was on Saturday when it was really like a balloon and my face was swollen, so I think wearing sunglasses was a suitable thing to do.

“I wasn't trying to make a fashion statement, I wore them because I had an illness which has disfigured my face."

He added: “Yes (I am on the mend) but I'm not right, I'm not sure how long it will take. It's one of those things that people don't know, it could last for a week or even months.

“I've got a very bad headache all the time, like now I've got a very bad headache and my face is still a bit of a mess, but I'm trying to get on with it as best I can."