Beleaguered U's boss Steve Whitton has been forced to quarantine four squad members after 'flu hit the Colchester United camp.

The U's boss will be keeping a close eye on all his players over the next few days.

With just one win in their last 13 games, the last thing Whitton needs is for players to be ruled out.

Wing-back Karl Duguid, having a decent run in the first team at the moment, is very doubtful for Saturday's home game with Queens Park Rangers after going down with gastric 'flu on Monday night.

Also doubtful are Bobby Bowry, who has a chest infection, Scott Fitzgerald and Kem Izzet (both 'flu).

Whitton has ordered these players to stay away from Layer Road as he tries to control the outbreak.

Whitton said: "Karl is extremely doubtful. I don't know about Bowry and Fitzgerald, although Izzet should be OK. Those players are staying away so that illness does not spread through the squad."

Duguid, resting at his home in Hitchin, said: "As it stands at the moment I am struggling to be fit for Saturday.

"I went down with illness on Monday night. I was up all night being sick and went to see the doctor yesterday.

"He said there was nothing he could give me and it was up to nature to take its course.

"The trouble is, once someone in the team gets it, it spreads like wildfire because we are all sharing changing rooms, and are together all the time.

"It's like I've been put in quarantine, and I will be watching a lot of TV over the next few days."

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Published Wednesday, March 13, 2002