Michael Phillips somehow got through almost an hour of Maidstone’s win at Ebbsfleet.

Already suffering the effects of the bug that’s gone through the squad, a tooth infection left Phillips sleep-deprived, unable to eat and on antibiotics.

Hardly ideal preparation for a big Kent derby but Phillips gave it everything and was out on his feet by the time manager Hakan Hayrettin replaced him with Dominic Odusanya.

Phillips, speaking after Tuesday night’s 3-2 win, said: “I’ve been bugged up, just the illness going round the camp, for a couple of weeks, and I’ve got a root canal in my tooth that got infected, so I haven’t eaten since Monday morning and only had two or three hours’ sleep.

“I wasn’t planning to play but it felt a little bit better.

“But being out there, not eating and taking painkillers, it just made me feel dizzy and sick.

“I wanted to play on but I’d rather let someone like Dom come on who’s probably going to work harder than me when I’m feeling rough, and he did a good job.”

It was Phillips’ fifth successive start since Hayrettin explained his absence from the team had been down to fitness and weight issues following his return to the club.

He’s knuckled down, has looked sharper with each game and says he’ll soon be back in peak condition.

“It was just through Covid, I had an issue at Wealdstone, a personal reason, that’s why I left there,” he said.

“I didn’t play the last six months at Wealdstone, I put on a little bit of weight but I’m losing it, I’m getting fitter each game, this was my fifth game, so one or two more and I’m back to my fittest.”

The embrace Hayrettin saved for Phillips as he left the pitch at Stonebridge Road spoke volumes for the pair’s relationship.

Phillips revealed the Stones’ boss help has gone beyond football and hopes critics will lay off him after the team’s recent improvement.

“Hak’s been getting a lot of stick but now we’ve beaten Ebbsfleet we’re right back in the mix,” said Phillips.

“Hak’s been under pressure for weeks now and he doesn’t deserve it.

“He’s a good guy, a good manager, and he looks after his players.

“I’ve had some personal issues this year, family problems and that, and he’s been there for me. I could always call him and talk to him.”

Hayrettin heaped praise on Phillips following the win at Ebbsfleet that sent Maidstone up to third place in National South.

“He’s on antibiotics and he’s run through a brick wall for me tonight,” said the manager.

“He shouldn’t have been playing, he’s like the walking dead.

“He’s just about managed to walk off the pitch. He’s nearly falling asleep in the dressing room.”