By Carys Baptist
August 6 2004

Newcastle team-mates are constantly worrying about the quick spreading conjunctivitis, which has already claimed four team members.

Newcastle team-mates are constantly worrying about the quick spreading conjunctivitis, which has already claimed four team members.

With the training ground shut down and Lee Bowyer, Tony Caig, Andy O’Brien and Shay Given all victims of the infection the Newcastle United team are training individually today but will resume training as a team on Monday.

Aaron Hughes said of the problem:

"Hopefully we've done what we've wanted to do in the games fitness-wise.

We've got a bit of team shape, which you need, and now we've got another 10 days to look at a few things before the first Premiership game.

Hopefully we'll be ready to go. In the next 10 days we'll make a few steps towards that."

Newcastle kick start the season against Middlesborough and need to start the season well to keep hopes high. With a string of injuries and now the infection amongst the players Sir Bobby Robson may be stretched for resources.

“The conjunctivitis is a strange one. You've just got to get on with it and try and adapt yourself the best you can. You've just got to try to be hygienic - you're constantly washing your hands!

You just hope that no one else goes down with it.

As far as the footballs concerned, you've got to concentrate on that. We can do a little bit of work at home and come on Monday fresh for the start of the season on Saturday."