Gary Teale, Jimmy Bullard, Jason Roberts and Alan Mahon missed training yesterday after going down with a virus.
It is hoped three of them will be up and running by the weekend – Mahon is still troubled by a knee injury – but their absence meant a much-reduced squad was put through their paces at Christopher Park.
One worry is that others might also go down with the virus as the week goes on, which would leave them with little recovery time ahead of Ipswich's visit to the JJB.
Manager Paul Jewell said: "Unfortunately we have got an illness in the camp, with four of the lads coughing and spluttering.
"That's a big chunk of the squad but it's better for something like this to come out earlier in the week rather than later.
"It's just one of those things you have to put up with from time to time and hopefully the lads will be feeling better soon so they can resume training."
Jewell will want all hands on deck for the Ipswich game and the illness scare is something he could have done without.
Winger Teale has started to hit top note in recent games, Bullard is a vital cog in the midfield and Roberts has been among the goals lately.
But midfielder Mahon faces a third match on the sidelines this weekend even if he shakes off the illness as he continues to receive treatment for an
injury to his left knee.
The problem has been diagnosed as a cyst inside the back of the knee and it's a matter of waiting for the swelling to go down.
Jewell said: "Mahony's knee swelled up after the Leeds game and the medical people were going to drain the cyst but have now decided not to.
"Unfortunately he's picked up this virus too so I wouldn't have thought he will be ready for Saturday."
Bullard will be anxious to declare himself fit as the Ipswich game would be his 99th consecutive league start for Latics.
It's a little more than two years since Jewell brought him to Wigan and the manager admitted he is keen to keep the former Peterborough player beyond the end of his current contract which runs out at the end of next season.
He said: "For the money we paid for Jimmy, he has been a fabulous signing.
"His contract comes up for renewal next year and we tried to talk about a new one earlier in the season which didn't come to anything.
"But Jimmy is the type of lad who hasn't sulked. He's put it to the back of his mind and has said he will prove he's worth what he wants.
"That's a great attitude which any manager would want to hear, and I'm sure come the end of this season, whatever division we are in, Jimmy will be getting a new deal."
l Latics are reported to be eyeing up Reading striker Nicky Forster as they seek to add cover to their squad for a final promotion push.
Forster is out of contract with the Royals at the end of the season and won't be offered a new deal at the Madejski Stadium, so he would only cost Latics a small fee.
The 31-year-old, who has also played for Birmingham, Gillingham and Brentford, has scored 64 goals in his five-and-a-half years with Reading including six so far this term.
Jewell has been seeking cover for some time for his first choice pairing Nathan Ellington and Jason Roberts but has seen bids for Brett Ormerod and Ade Akinbiyi rejected.
It is hoped three of them will be up and running by the weekend – Mahon is still troubled by a knee injury – but their absence meant a much-reduced squad was put through their paces at Christopher Park.
One worry is that others might also go down with the virus as the week goes on, which would leave them with little recovery time ahead of Ipswich's visit to the JJB.
Manager Paul Jewell said: "Unfortunately we have got an illness in the camp, with four of the lads coughing and spluttering.
"That's a big chunk of the squad but it's better for something like this to come out earlier in the week rather than later.
"It's just one of those things you have to put up with from time to time and hopefully the lads will be feeling better soon so they can resume training."
Jewell will want all hands on deck for the Ipswich game and the illness scare is something he could have done without.
Winger Teale has started to hit top note in recent games, Bullard is a vital cog in the midfield and Roberts has been among the goals lately.
But midfielder Mahon faces a third match on the sidelines this weekend even if he shakes off the illness as he continues to receive treatment for an
injury to his left knee.
The problem has been diagnosed as a cyst inside the back of the knee and it's a matter of waiting for the swelling to go down.
Jewell said: "Mahony's knee swelled up after the Leeds game and the medical people were going to drain the cyst but have now decided not to.
"Unfortunately he's picked up this virus too so I wouldn't have thought he will be ready for Saturday."
Bullard will be anxious to declare himself fit as the Ipswich game would be his 99th consecutive league start for Latics.
It's a little more than two years since Jewell brought him to Wigan and the manager admitted he is keen to keep the former Peterborough player beyond the end of his current contract which runs out at the end of next season.
He said: "For the money we paid for Jimmy, he has been a fabulous signing.
"His contract comes up for renewal next year and we tried to talk about a new one earlier in the season which didn't come to anything.
"But Jimmy is the type of lad who hasn't sulked. He's put it to the back of his mind and has said he will prove he's worth what he wants.
"That's a great attitude which any manager would want to hear, and I'm sure come the end of this season, whatever division we are in, Jimmy will be getting a new deal."
l Latics are reported to be eyeing up Reading striker Nicky Forster as they seek to add cover to their squad for a final promotion push.
Forster is out of contract with the Royals at the end of the season and won't be offered a new deal at the Madejski Stadium, so he would only cost Latics a small fee.
The 31-year-old, who has also played for Birmingham, Gillingham and Brentford, has scored 64 goals in his five-and-a-half years with Reading including six so far this term.
Jewell has been seeking cover for some time for his first choice pairing Nathan Ellington and Jason Roberts but has seen bids for Brett Ormerod and Ade Akinbiyi rejected.