Home
Ian Evatt says club captain Ricardo Santos is showing signs of improvement after being rushed into hospital with breathing difficulties.
The big defender was admitted on Friday after being struck down with a virus and has also developed pneumonia symptoms in his lungs.
Wanderers’ players have been in regular contact with their team-mate over the last 24 hours, and he sent a message after the final whistle in Friday night’s 1-1 draw against Bristol Rovers to congratulate them on getting back into the game late on.
But Evatt is still concerned about Santos’s health and said he would be given support by the club as he gets back to full health.
“The latest that I know is that he’s still finding it difficult to breath by himself on his own, so he’s got some sort of breathing apparatus to assist him. He does feel slightly better today which is positive,” Evatt told The Bolton News.
“But obviously he’s having lots of tests, lots of help and support from Bolton fans within the hospital which is good news. As a football club and as a family, we rally around him and the rest of his family and wish him a really speedy recovery.
“He’s in the best possible place and all we can do now is say a prayer for him and hope that he’ll recover sooner rather than later and be back with us.”
Vice-captain Gethin Jones spoke to the press after Friday night’s game, confirming that one of Santos’s children had also fell ill.
“We got told the news yesterday that his little one wasn’t very well and that Rico was struggling as well, it hit us hard,” he said.
“Rico went into hospital yesterday afternoon and I dropped him a message straight away. He told me he was struggling to breathe.
“We will look after his missus. I know a lot of the girls are close to her and his two kids as well, so we will make sure they are OK. We will make sure he gets the best possible recovery.”
Jones also said there was a resolve to play for their team-mate, who has played more games for Evatt than any other member of the first tea.
“We were just worried. Rico is never injured, never ill,” he said.
“The first thing he texted to me was: ‘Geth, I hope you don’t get this. I am really struggling.’ “You know with Rico that if he isn’t there it must be something bad because he never misses training, he never misses a game.
“We had a big conversation before the game and the lads just wanted to get out there and play for Rico tonight.”
Source