WARNOCK: COVID A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH... JUST TAKE IT SERIOUSLY

NEIL WARNOCK has revealed how he was knocked out for a week by “life or death” coronavirus.

The 71-year-old Middlesbrough boss explained in detail how he was left “shattered and wanting to sleep every minute” after being struck down a fortnight ago.

And he issued a warning to the public to wear masks and take the virus seriously, slamming the 200 students filmed at a raucous party at Coventry University this week.

His brush with Covid-19 was a shock for Warnock and made him passionate about ensuring the rest of the country do their bit in stopping the spread.

He said: “It is life or death with this horrible virus. It makes you more aware of how careful you have to be. You don’t think about football you just think, ‘How can I get better?’

“I started with a niggly throat and lost sense of smell and taste. I was shattered the first few days, wanting to go to sleep every minute.

“At my age you want a nap in the afternoon but I was shattered with this virus. It was different.

“I was lucky I didn’t get anything on my chest. I was determined to keep my lungs as wide open as I could, and avoid breathing difficulties. You are weak and have to recover.”

Warnock, who says he has not been ill in 15 years and is still not feeling back to normal, suspects he caught the virus from another staff member.

“Our IT lad had it first and was worse off,” he added. “I had an hour in the office with him, no windows open. He had it bad on the chest. I won’t put myself in a situation like that again. Always have ventilation.”

Warnock, who will make his 1,500th team talk when Barnsley visit tomorrow, has waded into the national debate about mask-wearing and social distancing.

He added: “You just have to do it. I’m doing the surfaces two or three times a day. I’m paranoid about that. I wash my fruit with suds.

“I’ve not told my wife about me going round spraying everything because I don’t want her thinking it is going to be the norm.

“It annoys me when I see 200 kids having a party. And to those who don’t wear a mask – I think it’s ridiculous. Why put other people’s lives at risk? It’s kills older people.”

You don’t think about football, you think ‘how can I get better?