JOHN Coleman has wished Steve Cotterill a speedy recovering from Covid-19 as Accrington Stanley prepare to host Shrewsbury Town this afternoon.

The pair have demonstrated just how the virus can affect people in different ways – Coleman suffering mild symptoms while Cotterill ended up in intensive care

The former Burnley boss, who is still well thought of at Turf Moor, was released from hospital earlier this week having tested positive for coronavirus on January 1.

The 56-year-old, who spent three years in charge of the Clarets, is now back home in Bristol and will continue to manage the Shrews remotely as he steps up his rehabilitation.

“Steve has been hit hard,” Coleman told the club website. “Myself, I only had a cough for a day and a loss of taste and smell but it affects everyone differently and that’s what you have got to be mindful of this illness.

“I wish Steve well, I get on quite well with him and he has done a terrific job since he took over at Shrewsbury.

“He certainly galvanised them when we played them at their place, think it was his first league game in charge, and it was a cracking game which ended up a 2-2 draw.

“He has done well but his health comes first.”

The Shrews are currently 17th but on are on a fine run of form since Cotterill took charge while Stanley moved in to the play-off positions following Wednesday night’s 1-0 win at Doncaster Rovers.

“I think it will be good psychologically for us getting into the play-off places but getting in the top six for me is the easy part, staying in it is the hard part,” added the Reds boss.

“You can only do that by picking up points, how you do that is immaterial.

“Obviously you want to do it by playing free-flowing football and scoring loads of goals but that’s not always the case and you come up against good sides.

“There isn’t a bad side in League One, there are teams who are in and out of form and at this moment of time, Shrewsbury are one of the teams who are in form so we know it will be a difficult game. We feel our play says we are in-form although our results don’t say that.”

Coleman’s side had picked up two points from their previous nine but he admits his team are on a high after they secured the win over Rovers.

“It was a smashing victory for hard work on Wednesday. There will be some tired legs, Shrewsbury didn’t play and you think it might be a bit of an advantage but when you are playing well, we haven’t been winning but we got that win, it tends to give you a lift, a spring in your step, a shot of adrenaline.

“We have set ourselves standards now. If we can reach them who knows where it can take us. It’s going to be hard work to do that but we have a cracking set of lads, a good squad and we have got players coming back to push everyone all the way. We are looking forward to every game we play no matter who we play.”

Sean McConville sits out the last of his four-game ban while Shrewsbury is too soon for Joe Pritchard as he looks to overcome an injury.