Neal Ardley is fighting on two fronts for the next week as his Dons stars battle illness and injury.

A flu-like virus has gone through the dressing room, and it has paid no heed to rank or importance.

Indeed, Ardley confessed to missing his first day off sick in seven years on Tuesday.

He remains hopeful that most of the squad will be available for the visit of Rochdale this weekend, but with three games in seven days on the horizon, Ardley is expecting a tough time.

“We have had all flu jabs, so it is not that, but something has been going through the dressing room.

“I was all set to go into work on Tuesday, but I was shivering and sweating so much that my wife stopped me.

“We’re a little bit down on bodies, so it is going to be a tough week.”

There was more concern for Ardley when new boy Aaron Morris limped out of the 2-1 defeat at Oxford United on Saturday.

“With about 10 minutes to go, Aaron felt his groin. We don’t know if it was fatigue or just his body adapting to playing again.

“We’re hopeful he will be available for Saturday, but we’ll make a decision then whether to play him or keep him back for the two away games that follow.”