Assistant Watford manager Ray Lewington has assured the press that Roy Hodgson should be healthy for the game against Burnley this weekend (Saturday). The manager was feeling unwell today and so was unable to fulfil his media duties at the club’s London Colney training ground.
Ray Lewington explained: “He’s unwell, he was unwell last night in the hotel. Very unusual for him, we came in together and he told me, ‘I’m feeling quite bad. At the moment.’ So the doctor saw him and I think really, he just needed a rest. You know, I’m absolutely sure he’ll be there tomorrow. But he just needed a rest. They don’t quite know what’s wrong with him. But he’s seeing a couple of people this afternoon. But, you know, I don’t think it’s anything serious, but you know, he just felt genuinely unwell.”
The assistant then went on to add that it is the very ‘first time’ he’s ever seen Hodgson go home early in all their years working together – the duo have a long-standing partnership, having taken on roles with the likes of Fulham, England and Crystal Place in the past.
Ray Lewington added: “Well, I mean, anyone that knows Roy knows that he puts everything into everything he does. I must admit, I think this is just a one-off illness and nothing in reflection on what’s happening here. I mean, he’s totally engrossed in whatever he does when it involves football. So I think this is just an unhappy coincidence that it’s actually happened a couple of days before, you know, a big match. So as I say, I’m sure he’ll be there tomorrow.”
Of course, should Hodgson remain unwell, Lewington would have to oversee proceedings against Burnley. It wouldn’t be his first time acting as manager for Watford though. Indeed, the 65-year-old served as first-team boss between 2002 and 2005.
