WANDERERS are battling to contain a virus that has swept through the training camp at Euxton.

Mark Davies, Andy Lonergan and Jermaine Beckford were ruled out of Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat against Brighton with illness, while a number of backroom staff have also been sent home in an effort to stop the problem spreading further.

Dougie Freedman was forced into a late change when Davies withdrew from the squad on Friday night, and the in-form midfielder was undoubtedly missed as the Whites slipped to their first loss in six games.

But there is concern within the club that the issue could escalate this week and affect preparations for next weekend’s trip to Yeovil Town.

Midfielder Medo Kamara revealed that the build-up to the Brighton game had been hit – with players forced to train in small groups to prevent the sickness bug spreading right through the dressing room.

“I’m really surprised by what has happened,” he said. “I came into training and I was thinking ‘what is this? What is going on?’ “I think with some of the office and staff members there are six or seven people who have got it.

“Everything like this is happening at the moment. We just need to see the season through and then see what’s going to happen.”

Freedman is hoping that by the time his side visit Huish Park this weekend the three players who missed the Brighton game will be back in contention.

“We’re talking about very late calls,” he said of the late withdrawals.

“It has gone right through the camp so it’s something we need to be careful with.

“This sickness has been difficult for us – so the fact we haven’t got a midweek game suits us. We need to maybe step down (training) a little bit and make sure the rest is done.”