THE illness virus surrounding the Rovers squad shows no sign of relenting ahead of a run of two games in three days.

But Tony Mowbray is hoping it doesn’t affect his plans too much as he prepares for his side for a home game with Scunthorpe on Saturday then the New Year’s Day trip to Rotherham.

Several of the Rovers players have been struggling, as has Mowbray himself, with the virus which has seen Charlie Mulgrew and Dominic Samuel miss out in recent games.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s game at home to the Iron, Mowbray said: “There’s one or two over the last day or two have caught the virus that lots of others have had this week so we’ll see how it affects them in the next few days.

“Some have managed to shake it off in a day or two, others it’s really lingered so we'll see. Injury-wise, there's not been any major problems from the other day so we’ll train the next couple of days and see how we are for two important matches in a three day period.”

Samuel has missed each of the last two games due to illness but is set to train today having failed a fitness test ahead of the Rochdale win.

And Mowbray said: “He’s been low on energy levels but let’s see how he does and let’s see if he’s ready to start the match or come off the bench but hopefully he will impact the next two matches for us which he hasn’t been able to for the last two.”

Mowbray reported no new injury concerns following the Boxing Day win over Dale but remains without midfielder Ben Gladwin.

Gladwin hasn’t featured since the Checkatrade Trophy game at Rochdale last month having struggled with a knee injury.

Asked for an update on the 25-year-old, who is yet to start a league game since his summer move from QPR, Mowbray added: “He had an operation recently, not a major operation, a minor one to clean up some fluid in his knee.

“He’s back in the building and will see, we will assess over the next few weeks where he is and see what level of success the operation proved.

“He’s obviously not ready to put his boots on and get on the grass so soon after an operation but hopefully it’s good news and he goes through his rehabilitation in the next couple of weeks to get him back in training.”