TOM Thorpe rose from his sick bed to play a part in Wanderers’ win against Oldham Athletic.

After learning the on-loan midfielder had been struck down by a virus, which has worked its way around the Whites’ camp in recent weeks, Phil Parkinson revealed he had considered pulling him from his squad entirely on the morning of the game.

“I got a call from the physio at 10am saying Tom had been up all night with an illness that a few of the lads have had,” he explained. “He came in, the doctor gave him some medication and I thought first half he was very good – he reads the game so well, makes a lot of interceptions and picks up positions. Him and (Jay) Spearing gave us a real feeling of control.”

Parkinson will now keep an eye on Thorpe, who was replaced by Derik Osede in the later stages, before deciding if he makes the trip to Millwall tomorrow night.

The Whites boss was full of praise for his side having warned them about Oldham’s work ethic away from home.

“Spearing was magnificent, Wheater too – there were a lot of big performances but I thought the senior boys did really well,” he said, after inflicting just a seventh defeat in 30 away games on the Latics.

“You could see Oldham were a team with belief, even at 1-0 down because they got themselves back into the game last week. You have to be wary of that.

“We were right on the money.”