Mark Catlin's coronavirus warning: One of Portsmouth's infected players wasn't showing symptoms

That’s the sobering message as the Blues battle to contain the pandemic which has now affected at least three of their players.

James Bolton, Andy Cannon and Sean Raggett were last night informed they have contracted the virus, following testing on Monday.

The Blues are awaiting test results from a further 24 members of their playing squad and backroom staff.

Chief executive Mark Catlin spoke to the infected three first-team regulars late on Friday night, before calling them again this morning.

Of the trio, Catlin revealed one was completely unaware he was carrying coronavirus, with the other two were demonstrating potential tell-tale signs.

And he insists Bolton, Cannon and Raggett are currently self-isolating and in good spirits.

Catlin told The News: ‘The three are all good, we have made sure the’re going to be all right for food and essentials.

‘I spoke to them all last night and again this morning and they are fine.

‘I won’t name him, because it’s not fair, but one has had a cough for a week or two that no-one really thought much of. It was a little tickly cough.

‘One has no symptoms whatsoever and the third reported that a couple of days ago he was tasting things slightly differently, subsequently that coming out as one of the potential symptoms.

‘It was his taste and smell and, from doing a bit of investigating, it appears that is consistent with some of the later cases.

‘Apart from that they are all fit, healthy and, I’m sure, don’t really know what the fuss is about.’

All three had started Pompey’s most recent match – a 2-2 draw with Fleetwood on March 10.

Catlin added: ‘The good thing is at their age and given their health, statistically they should be fine, but it’s a wake-up call.

‘The concern is people of a lower risk passing it onto those in the elder age group with an underlying health issue – that’s where the real problem lies.

‘The three are absolutely fine, they just have to play this one out now, along with the rest of the country.’