by Kevin Redsull

Goalkeeper Mitch Walker has become the latest victim of the stomach bug which has hit several Whites’ players in recent weeks.

Walker (pictured) was close to pulling out of last Saturday’s game with Welling and the illness also prevented him from training on Tuesday night.

Manager Chris Kinnear said: "Mitch rang me when he was driving to Crabble on Saturday to say that he might have to turn back and go home because he was feeling unwell but I asked him to try and make it if he could.

We were half-expecting him to drop out during the (pre-match) warm-up and so Lee Hook was on stand-by.

"We are just hoping now that Mitch will shake it off in time to be able to make the trip to Weston (on Saturday)."

Kinnear is also waiting for the results of an X-ray which midfielder Daryl McMahon has undergone on his injured foot.