Eye infection sweeps through Newcastle squad

Work was continuing today to stamp out a highly-contagious eye infection which is threatening to blight the start of Newcastle’s season.

Bobby Robson and his players returned to the north-east after their 2-1 friendly defeat at Celtic last night with four players missing due to viral conjunctivitis.

The club have temporarily closed down their Darsley Park training headquarters after Shay Given, Andy O’Brien, Lee Bowyer and Tony Caig contracted the virus and ordered the remaining squad members to take a series of measures to protect themselves ahead of the big kick-off at Middlesbrough on August 14.

“The eye infection affecting certain players is becoming an epidemic,” admitted Robson after last night’s game.

“We have to shut down for four days which is rather unfortunate bearing in mind the trip to Middlesbrough is so close.

“It’s very serious. We have four down now and we’re not sure how many more players have been affected.

“The incubation period is five to seven days, so we could still see some of the lads coming down with it over the weekend.

“Everybody’s worried about it. It’s not dangerously serious, but it’s something we need to attack and we have to close the whole place down.

“If you saw Shay Given’s eye, you would realise how bad things are. He’s in a wretched state. He was the first to be affected and then Andy O’Brien picked it up.

“Now Lee Bowyer and Tony Caig have joined the casualty list. The eye closes up, it swells and waters. Shay looks like he’s been in a fight with Muhammad Ali, his eye is so swollen. It’s very nasty.”

The players will train in isolation during the next four days, eat and drink at home and change in their own cars in a bid to prevent further cases with the start of the new season a little more than a week away.

United confirmed the move in a statement released last night.