Tony Mowbray revealed that captain Charlie Mulgrew missed the 0-0 draw at Derby County through illness.

The defender hadn’t trained all week, with Mowbray giving the 32-year-old time off to recover at home.

Mowbray expects Mulgrew back in training on Thursday in the lead up to Saturday’s game at Stoke City.

He was replaced in the starting line-up by Derrick Williams who made his first start since the opening day after overcoming a foot injury.

“Charlie came in my office yesterday and I hadn’t seen him for a few days because he’d had a tummy bug and hadn’t eaten for a day-and-a-half,” the boss said.

“He was feeling a bit weak but he wanted to train. I told him to go home because I didn’t want any of the other players getting it.

“I didn’t know whether it was a virus that could have been spread around so I told him to go home and that we’d see him on Thursday.

“I’ve been a footballer who has had an illness and thinks he could play.

“But I’m not sure a half-fit Charlie Mulgrew would have done what a fully-fit Derrick Williams did tonight at the intensity required.”