WEYMOUTH are facing a massive injury and illness dilemma ahead of their bottom-of-the-table Vanarama National League South contest with Cheshunt on Saturday.

Teddy Howe (knee), Harry Kyprianou (hamstring), Tom Bearwish (suspension), Ben Thomson and Sami Bessadi (illness) are definitely out.

Josh Oyinsan, Dan Matsuzaka, Hari McCoy and Max McCoy all have the mystery virus in the Terras’ camp and may have to drag themselves out of bed to play or sit on the bench.

Oyinsan and Matsuzaka did feature in Weymouth Under-23s’ 3-1 loss to Poole Town Under-23s last night.

READ MORE: Mark Molesley joins Gosport Borough as director of football

However, the duo are understood to be far from over the illness after missing Saturday’s 2-1 win at Welling.

Giving his summary of the situation, which leaves Weymouth desperately short of cover at full-back in particular, boss Bobby Wilkinson insisted he is relishing the challenge posed.

On Bessadi, who is yet to make an appearance since signing, he said: “He’s not very well, so he definitely won’t be involved this Saturday and he couldn’t train (today) either.

“We might be able to call more on him again soon. He’s done nothing wrong, he’s a fantastic young player.

“What’s killed us is he’s cup-tied, so he hasn’t been around. He came in to help us through a very difficult period.”

Exeter City have also recalled 17-year-old centre back Ed James, who is expected to be loaned out to another club beneath the Terras’ level.

Wilkinson said: “They want to send him out on loan to a club a couple of divisions lower, so he’s getting 90 minutes every week.

“Ed was fantastic for us and I appreciate him coming in to help us out for that month. I could understand why Exeter have called him back.

“He’s only 17 so that’s another player that’s gone out the door.”

It means Weymouth have been working to extend Eastleigh defender Brendan Willson’s loan for another month.

Talks are ongoing between the clubs with Willson’s final league game on Saturday.

Wilkinson said: “Can we extend it for another month? If we don’t we’re going to be even shorter on numbers.

“That’s why we’re working so hard. People would never understand how hard we’re working to bring in defenders.

“People are looking at it, we’re bottom of the league and it’s hard to bring in players in certain situations.

“I’ve watched more games in the last three weeks than I ever have in my career. I’ve been going to a game nearly every day of the week, because you’re hoping to pick up someone.

“We’ve brought in one or two triallists to have a look at them and one or two haven’t been good enough, one or two we want to look at a little bit more.

“When you think we only had three on the bench last week and now we’ve lost (another) three, we’re going to have to ask a few lads to get out of bed, make numbers up on the bench.

“It is very difficult times with this illness and injuries but the boys still believe we’re going to win this week.”

Giving an update on any potential new signings, Wilkinson said: “We’re trying to bring one in but if it is, it’s going to be a midfielder.

“We might have to move another midfielder to play full-back this week because Tom’s out. We have someone in with us who might be able to help us out.

“Hopefully we’re going to get that one over the line. We’re fighting week by week. You want the right people to come in.

“I would’ve called back on Mitch Parker but he’s having a serious (knee) operation, so he’s out for the rest of the season.”

Thomson’s absence is also a blow, given the hype surrounding his return.

Wilkinson said: “We need to assess it. The ankle’s still very swollen. I don’t want to put a timescale on it, because he’s a very tough boy. He’s definitely not available this week.

“It’s another injury to the list that we’ve already got.

“You can imagine the challenges I’ve got behind the scenes but guess what? I’m loving every minute of it. Let’s take it on!”

Slightly more positive news comes in the form of Oyinsan and Matsuzaka, who are the most advanced in their recovery from the bug.

Wilkinson said: “They were both very ill last weekend and still haven’t recovered.

“Dan’s still quite ill but I asked him to help me out last night and get some minutes, just incase we’ll call on him.

“Hari and his brother Max are in bed ill, it’s quite a serious illness going around in our camp. It’s knocking people out.

“They might have to sit on the bench this week because we might struggle to fit three on the bench, unless I can pull something out of the bag.

“It is absolutely backs to the wall right now.”

And Wilkinson was at pains to avoid using the predicament as an excuse, particularly after winning at Welling last week.

He added: “I don’t want anyone out there to think this is an excuse because I’m loving the challenge.

“I don’t dwell on it, I just move on. It’s not an excuse, I’m just telling you the truth.

“We’re coming through a tornado at the moment. It’s trying to blow me away but I’m not letting it.

“In 15 years of managing, I don’t think I’ve gone through as many injuries and illnesses. I have to be brutally honest.

“Then, when one of your best players gets a suspension for five bookings, that one hurt me.”