Source: Telegraph
Tottenham players struck down by mystery virus
Wilson Palacios and Vedran Corluka are along 18 players and staff who have been hit by the sickness and diarrhea bug. [LNB]Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham manager, said: "We've closed the training ground. It's off limits. We're just going to train there and that's it.' [LNB]Prior to the midweek FA Cup replay against Bolton, Redknapp had warned that a virus had shown itself but, following the 4-0 win, it has taken hold. [LNB]"We had a few down with it the other day,' added Redknapp. 'Corluka had the virus and Palacios was not feeling great with it either.' [LNB]Following the visit of Everton, when Spurs can further improve their chances of getting into the Champions League, they face Fulham in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, a week tomorrow. [LNB]Redknapp added: "It has swept through the academy. There are about 18 who work there or the kids who have all got it so the doctor decided we couldn't use it. [LNB]"It hasn't disrupted us, we are still training as normal and hopefully no-one else gets it but there have been so many other people who have gone down with it, including a few of the press boys who came over on Tuesday, it is certainly spreading." [LNB]Redknapp, who switched his normal pre-match press conference from the club's Essex headquarters to White Hart Lane, remains hopeful that Palacios and Corluka will be fit for selection against Everton. [LNB]A Spurs statement read: "A number of (academy) scholars and several first-team players have reported feeling unwell and, as a precaution, are being kept away from the training ground for a period of 48 hours in order to avoid the risk of spread. [LNB]"As an additional precaution, the club has undertaken a comprehensive deep clean of the entire training ground's facilities while all administrative and academy staff have been instructed to work from home until Monday." [LNB]It is not the first time Spurs have been hit by illness at a crucial juncture. Four years ago Tottenham needed to match Arsenal's result on the final day of the season but went down with a bout of food poisoning. [LNB]Attempts to have the final game, at West Ham, postponed failed even though 10 players were left with illness. Spurs lost 2-1. [LNB][LNB]
