West Coast coach John Worsfold insists his public endorsement from Eagles chief executive Trevor Nisbett wasn't necessary, claiming he already felt safe in his AFL job.

Football greats Leigh Matthews, Tony Shaw, Robert Walls and former Eagles chairman Murray McHenry all questioned Worsfold's tenure following the club's disastrous start to the season, which has them languishing in 14th spot with a 3-7 record ahead of Saturday's daunting clash with Geelong at Subiaco Oval.

The public criticism prompted Nisbett to release a statement late on Monday stating: "John is contracted to coach until the end of the 2011 season and he will coach our club until at least then. Speculation about John's future is a nonsense."

But Worsfold said the public backing from Nisbett - while nice - wasn't needed.

"Publicly there was the endorsement but obviously privately, I'm very comfortable with the relationship I have and the understanding of where I'm at," Worsfold said on Wednesday.

"It wasn't as though I needed it or was hanging out for anything.

"They only had to come out and talk about it because there was a lot of media stories about it."

Meanwhile, West Coast's player group are on contamination alert after luckless youngster Luke Shuey contracted glandular fever.

Shuey, who turned 20 on Wednesday, is set to miss up to a fortnight of football due to the virus, which struck last week just days before he was due back from a knee injury.

While Shuey, who shares a house with teammates Brad Ebert and Scott Selwood, hasn't been quarantined from the club, Worsfold said the midfielder had been advised to take precautions to ensure the virus didn't spread.

"Sharing water bottles is probably the biggest threat as a player, so he's being counselled on all that," Worsfold said.

Shuey's first season at the club was ruined by a serious groin injury and a fractured leg.

The talented on-baller broke through for his AFL debut in round one this year but hasn't played since round three due to a knee injury.

"He was just ready to play again and it's another blow to him," Worsfold said of Shuey's latest blow.

"But he's only young, he's got a 10 or 12 year AFL career ahead of him.

"So the start of it has been delayed a little bit but it will be worth it when he gets up and going."

In further bad news for the Eagles, Worsfold confirmed Darren Glass will spend his third straight week on the sidelines due to his lingering groin complaint.

"I'm hopeful (he'll be back soon) but not sure because it depends to how he reacts to increasing his workload," Worsfold said.

"So if he gets sore this week or next week and doesn't play, then we're in a bit of strife because we have to back him off again for probably another three weeks and start again.

"It's an unknown, he might be fine and ready to go by Monday next week and put his hand up and say 'I think I can play'.

"It all depends on the next five or six days."

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