‘Terrible pain’ – Slaven Bilic speaks out on West Brom player battle with Coronavirus
West Brom manager Slaven Bilic has opened up on Charlie Austin’s battle with Coronavirus earlier this year.
The Albion hitman was struck down with the illness back in March, and has since spoken out on how seriously people must take the symptoms that come with contracting it.
And now his boss has reiterated that point, emphasising just how unwell the 30-year-old became as a result of Covid-19.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, the Croatian said: “Charlie had all the symptoms and was in terrible pain for a few days with a high fever.
“At that time, there weren’t tests available so we don’t know if he really had the virus or if it was something else, a different kind of flu bug.
“Thank God it’s gone. Charlie is training normally for the four weeks since we came back.
“This has really been a crazy year.”
The main thing in this situation is that Austin is well again and back to his usual self, but his struggles with the virus should act as a lesson to all of us.
By all accounts, it sounds as if the Coronavirus knocked the striker for six.
And if a professional footballer at the peak of his physical fitness can be floored by the illness, it really emphasises just how careful we all need to be.
As Austin himself told the Telegraph back in March: “I felt like I was fit and healthy and I could handle it.
“A week later and I would say to anyone, even those in their 20s and 30s: don’t take it lightly – it’s serious.”
Thankfully, Austin managed to get over the virus in a relatively short period of time, but it is clear that his experience has left a real impression on the Baggies – and should serve as a reminder to us all of just careful we need to be.
In other West Brom news, Hal Robson-Kanu has detailed how some WBA players have got through lockdown
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