ALEX NEIL has revealed that Bailey Wright was transported to London in his own private helicopter ahead of today’s play-off final win over Wycombe to prevent him from infecting the rest of the Sunderland squad.

Wright took ill ahead of training on Thursday, and was isolated from the rest of Sunderland’s first-team group as he worked by himself at the Academy of Light yesterday.

While the rest of Sunderland’s players and staff flew to the capital on a plane, the Black Cats’ hierarchy arranged for Wright to travel alone on a helicopter.

The precautions worked, with the Australian producing a superb defensive display as Sunderland beat Wycombe 2-0 to win promotion.

Neil said: “Bailey was ill. He had a sickness bug on Thursday and didn’t train, so on Friday, he trained on the morning but we kept him separate from the group.

“He was literally only allowed to stay in his car on Friday morning, and then when we flew down, we got him a helicopter to bring him down.

“It’s the measure of the man, isn’t it? To come out and put in a performance like that, winning headers, being aggressive and doing what we did. Fair play to him.”