Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley has revealed an illness bug has swept through his Pompey squad, ruling players out of Boxing Day’s 0-0 draw at Exeter. The Hampshire club face the Blues at Fratton Park on Thursday evening.

Midfielder Jay Mingi and on-loan Tottenham striker Dane Scarlett were both sidelined for the game against the Grecians due to the bug unrelated to Covid, which affects the throat and head, as well as causing a fever.

In addition, defender Connor Ogilvie was unable to warm-up despite being named on the bench and Joe Morrell was also among the subs having only recently recovered, while Marlon Pack, Josh Griffiths and Colby Bishop were all in the side despite having been unwell.

“We’ve had some challenges for sure,” Cowley told the Portsmouth News. Dane Scarlett’s got a throat infection, so has Jay Mingi, I have changed the team about 15 times this week.

“Josh Griffiths wasn’t very well, Marlon Pack wasn't very well, Connor Ogilvie didn’t warm-up during the game because he deteriorated over the day. We would have used him, but only in extreme circumstances.

“Colby Bishop has been unwell, Joe Morrell didn’t train until Christmas, it has been difficult, it has been a challenge.

“I know the group, it’s a good group, it’s an honest group, and they could have easily used it as an excuse, particularly around the Christmas period. They are very professional and want to help the team and club.

“It seems to be three variants [of illness], those that have had Covid think it’s worse than that. It’s throat, head, a fever.

“I have some empathy for them, I had it at the beginning of the week, but was in work — and there is a difference between me being in work and able to play football.

“I was pretty poorly, then [brother and assistant manager] Nicky had it and then all the players got it. You know what it’s like, as soon as you travel on the coach and in the changing room, once one or two get it spreads like wildfire.”

Cowley is hoping to have players back before Thursday’s match and that no one else succumbs between now and then.

He added: “I said to them in there, those that are ill try to get better as quickly as they can — and those that are not ill try to stay away from those that have it.

“It has been an ever-changing situation and not easy to manage. Hopefully some will be back for Ipswich.”

Town boss Kieran McKenna revealed that there had been illness in the Blues squad ahead of the 3-0 Boxing Day victory over Oxford.

“We’ve had a little bit of unwellness in the camp,” he said. “So I thought there were a few in the first 15, 20 minutes finding their touch, finding their lungs, finding their legs and tactically getting to grips with the game.”

Meanwhile, Cowley has spoken about the future of on-loan Blues striker Joe Pigott, whose opportunities have been limited since joining Pompey in the summer.

Pigott has suggested he might look to move elsewhere in January unless he plays, despite Pompey insisting on Town having no recall clause in the season-long deal.

“We hope Joe doesn’t leave, we don’t want any of our players to leave,” he added.

“Our aim is to try to get better in the January period — and that’s what we’re focused on doing.

“It’s much easier to get better if you can keep your best players and add to them.

“I thought Joe did well against Exeter, his hold-up and link play was good, he brought others into the game, he was really intelligent with his movement. He did a good job for the team.

“He had a really good performance against Stevenage recently and we’ve been looking for the opportunity against the right opponent — and we felt Exeter was the right time.

“Joe certainly got some rough treatment [from Exeter], but that’s the nature of the number nine in League One.

“Joe needs to keep working. We know he has some super strengths in terms of his hold-up, link and goal threat, and he’s working really hard for the team against the ball. Those are things he needs to keep doing to stay in the team.”

Photo: TWTD

Wacko added 20:35 - Dec 27 Boo bloody hoo
4

itsonlyme added 20:37 - Dec 27 At least it's stopped him talking about us! He s got something else to say instead of itfc are doing this itfc are spending this amount itfc itfc bore bore!
3

BeattiesBackPocket added 21:00 - Dec 27 Don't believe a word this bloke says.
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jas0999 added 21:02 - Dec 27 Mind games. So many viruses out there at the moment, but a few years ago it was part and parcel of football. It is what is it. My guess is most of those will play. But, this is a game we need to win. And should.
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bluelodgeblue added 21:23 - Dec 27 Another Cowley distraction?? I'm sure McKenna will be wise to any of their pre match mind games! Coybs!
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MarinersMane added 21:32 - Dec 27 Smoke screen.
5

billlm added 21:34 - Dec 27 Full of it they will be fired up,
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itfchorry added 21:42 - Dec 27 Several Places being excused from PE in the morning !!
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itfchorry added 21:42 - Dec 27 Even Players !
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ip6blue added 22:05 - Dec 27 Probably all sick of Cowley
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Churchman added 23:32 - Dec 27 They'll all be fit and raring to go. Cowley likes to play every little trick in the book.
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MickMillsTash added 23:42 - Dec 27 Their goalie gets cramp on the 62nd minute in most games
3

GiveusaWave added 01:34 - Dec 28 Mind games, nothing more....
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 06:38 - Dec 28 Might be an attempt to distract - I don't know and hardly think that would work anyway. But having had this bug myself, I can confirm that it's pretty nasty and it seems to take a long time to get rid of the symptoms completely. Everyone reacts differently, of course, but it's quite possible some of the Pompey players won't be 100% for this match. COYB!
1

mjw_1983 added 07:05 - Dec 28 So Cowley was ill a week ago but still came to work, his players are now sick and he's moaning about it! You infected them you weasel. Horrible manager
2

Saxonblue74 added 07:41 - Dec 28 Doesn't matter if every one of them are 100% fit and ready to go. We're better than them anyway so should make no difference!
4

sospier added 07:59 - Dec 28 The blokes only sore because he was not good enough to get the job here.!
2

RegencyBlue added 08:03 - Dec 28 Usual Cowley mind games is my guess. I expect them to be at full strength!
3

bluediver added 08:49 - Dec 28 That will explain their players falling down all over the pitch.... oh wait, that's their usual time wasting plan
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Radlett_blue added 09:36 - Dec 28 The people on TWTD who kept shouting for Cowley to be appointed Town manager seem to have gone very quiet.
4

Northstandveteran added 09:43 - Dec 28 Well as much as I wouldn't want to accuse fellow town fans of being cynical, the bloke only told the local paper many of his players were unwell, as has Kieron, as is the general population at this present time. Nothing like a Cowley post to get the comments coming, just like irrelevant McCarthy posts long after he'd gone. I also recall many posters on this site wanting him as our manager during the dark times. Let's hope both teams have a fit squad so we can beat them fair and square without the need for excuses.

6

Cadiar added 10:23 - Dec 28 The only virus at Fratton Park is Cowley. Got to have an excuse for the appalling run they are having. All the usual bllx will come out that we have a huge amount to spend & have done but we abide by the rules the same as every other club. Just we are a far more attractive proposition than most clubs in League 1. They have Piggott, one of our higher earners, hope they are paying the majority of his wages because it doesn't seem there's a future at PR for him.

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warktheline added 10:45 - Dec 28 @radlett blue, what a ridiculous post! You've taken a possible/wished for scenario from several years back and fast tracked it to present day…it's irrelevant ! Evans has gone, new owners have invested, and a young, hungry, ambitious manager installed !…placing aside personal feelings, in regards to how he goes about achieving success, Cowley's track record is nothing short of exceptional !…that said, of course I wouldn't swap our present circumstances for anything , I campaigned for the removal of Evans, new dynamic owners and manager…couldn't be happier at Xmas , in regards to our football club!…after years of neglect and backsliding, we are now moving positively forward !

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Orraman added 10:46 - Dec 28 If this is true, which I think is being a little generous, Cowley should be taking steps to protect his player's future health and well-being by giving those affected an extended period of rest and recuperation until 1st January at the earliest. Hope the dressing rooms etc have been well disinfected before our arrival. Don't want Pompey bugs back here.
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virginblue added 11:14 - Dec 28 Absolute state of some of these comments about Cowley. After the game earlier this season he was very complimentary about the club and the fans, yet you lot are still on his case. There are far bigger arseholes than Cowley around.
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