Former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Karl Darlow has spoken about his ordeal after being hospitalised with Covid-19.
The Newcastle United shot-stopper has now been discharged and is steadily getting better as he recovers at home, but says he had a “pretty awful” time of it.
Darlow tested positive for coronavirus at the Magpies’ pre-season training camp in York more than a week ago.
He was sent home to isolate, but became increasingly dehydrated and was rushed to hospital last week.
"I had to go to hospital last week which was pretty awful - but I'm slowly improving now despite still feeling a bit rough,” he told Sky Sports News.
"This shows the virus is still going about and we still need to be careful with it."
Darlow has missed a chunk of Newcastle’s pre-season, and boss Steve Bruce is said to be not expecting him to return just yet.
"Karl Darlow is still not very well,” he had said after his team’s friendly win over Doncaster Rovers on Friday night.
"He's not great at all, unfortunately with covid at the moment.
"The goalkeeping situation should be a little bit better.
"Certainly we've got a couple of them who are self-isolating, they'll be okay."
Darlow’s Newcastle teammate and fellow ex-Red, Jamaal Lascelles, was absent for a spell last season as he battled the after-effects of Covid-19.
