Ex-Sunderland assistant Steve Cotterill recovering after intensive care spell battling Covid-19

Ex-Sunderland assistant Steve Cotterill is recovering after a spell in intensive care battling Covid-19, it has been revealed.
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The Shropshire Star reports the Shrewsbury Town manager spent time in intensive care over the weekend, Cotterill was hospitalised last Friday for ‘extra oxygen and night time care as his condition worsened’.

His condition improved over the weekend and his assistant Aaron Wilbraham said he is now ‘on the mend’.

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Sunderland, who beat AFC Wimbledon 3-0 at the weekend, are due to play Shrewsbury Town in League One on Saturday at the Stadium of Light.

Steve Cotterill pictured during his days at Sunderland.Steve Cotterill pictured during his days at Sunderland.
Steve Cotterill pictured during his days at Sunderland.

However, that fixture will be postponed if Shrewsbury beat Southampton in the FA Cup third round tie to be played on Tuesday evening and reach the next round this weekend.

Cotterill, who had a spell at the Stadium of Light as No2 to Howard Wilkinson, will again be absent for the FA Cup tie, however he is on the mend, his coaching staff have confirmed.

Wilbraham told the Star: "It's such a strange atmosphere without him, he's the energy around the place, everyone who knows him knows he's a ball of energy bouncing around. We've definitely missed him.

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"But he has been really poorly with it for the last two weeks. He was actually in intensive care over the weekend, he's had a really bad case of Covid.

"It got quite worrying at some points. We've all been wishing him well. I know him as a man and person and I know if anyone was going to take a bad case of Covid out of all of us he'd be the one stood at the front taking it for the team, players and staff. That sums him up as a person.

"It's been quite worrying. I've spoken with him in the last couple of days and I can tell he's getting better, his voice is getting better, he's starting to crack a couple of jokes, telling me to tell the boys he'll be watching from his hospital bed so they better be at it!

"So I know he's improving now, it's a bit of relief for everyone. It's been a crazy time,” added Wilbraham.

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