Newcastle’s trip to Aston Villa on Friday night in doubt due to Covid outbreak with club having to CANCEL training and close their Benton base after FIVE positive cases in the past week
- Newcastle have had at least five positive coronavirus cases in the camp
- The club were forced to cancel training on Monday due to the outbreak
- Sportsmail understands the players expect training on Tuesday to be scrapped
- Newcastle’s Premier League trip to Aston Villa on Friday night is now in doubt
Newcastle United were forced to cancel training on Monday and have closed the club’s Benton headquarters amid a Covid-19 outbreak – leaving Friday’s trip to Aston Villa in doubt.
Sportsmail understands players expect Tuesday’s session will also be scrapped after at least five positive cases in the camp in the past week. That would leave them with just two days to prepare for the game at Villa Park.
However, that fixture could yet be postponed if, as expected, more positive results are confirmed.
Newcastle were unable to train on Monday after a coronavirus outbreak in their camp
Players expect Tuesday’s session to be abandoned with at least five positive cases in camp
Steve Bruce’s side were scheduled to train on Monday afternoon as they awaited test results from Sunday.
Those plans were abandoned but Newcastle are not commenting on the current scale of the outbreak.
Players have been warned not to talk about who has contracted the virus as the club try to manage the situation.
But, more pertinently, they are trying to contain the spread of Covid-19 after an international player returned with the virus last week and it infiltrated their bubble before and during the trip to Crystal Palace on Friday.
If Newcastle have less than 14 senior players available for this Friday’s game then they could request a postponement from the Premier League.
Newcastle are due to play Aston Villa at Villa Park on Friday but that game is now in doubt