Mancienne knocked about by virus
Wolves loan defender Michael Mancienne has confessed his virus knocked him about so much that he could hardly run during the Birmingham game.
Wolves loan defender Michael Mancienne has confessed his virus knocked him about so much that he could hardly run during the Birmingham game.
The Chelsea man missed the two previous games with the bug picked up on England duty, following his shock call-up to the full squad for the win in Germany.
Mancienne finally returned on Saturday and played 90 minutes in the derby draw, getting better as the game wore on.
The 20-year-old said: "It was just a virus I picked up after coming back from the England trip. That was tough but I just had no energy, I couldn't even run.
"The illness certainly knocked me about and I still felt it a bit during the first half. By the second half I felt a lot better and I feel normal now. I'm just glad it's passed now and I feel alright again."
Mancienne was relieved to come through the Blues test but can at least reflect on training with the best players in the country as part of his development.
He said: "Training with England was great, just to be in and around it was a really good experience. The standard was very high and I was just happy to be involved.
"I might have got on from the bench if the game had been more comfortable but because it was so tight that made it difficult. But I took a lot away from the week as a whole, I was just glad to be there."
Mancienne admits there will be sentiment when he steps out at QPR on Saturday tea time for Wolves.
The Chelsea stopper played 58 games on loan over two seasons at Loftus Road, mostly at right-back and admits it was a different experience.
He said: "I had a couple of good seasons at QPR, which I'm grateful for, so I'm looking forward to Saturday's game. They gave me a first taste of first team football and I still know a few of the lads there.
"That won't stop me trying to help us win the game on Saturday though. It's good to be here at Wolves at a club near the top of the league, because you're trying to play good football."
"Being involved in a relegation scrap sometimes makes it more of a battle just to win games and it's a different kind of football.
"It's a different kind of pressure at the top end of the league but it's one I relish."
