Newcastle players WILL be at their training base for the first time in 12 days on Tuesday after Covid-19 outbreak that forced postponement of Aston Villa game and puts this weekend’s West Brom fixture at risk
- Newcastle were forced to close their training centre after a Covid-19 outbreak
- More than 10 individuals at the club tested positive for the virus in last fortnight
- Outbreak forced the postponement of last Friday’s match against Aston Villa
- There remain doubts over Saturday’s home game with West Bromwich Albion
- But players and staff who tested negative will return to train on Tuesday
Newcastle United will return to training on Tuesday for the first time in 12 days following an outbreak of Covid-19 at the club.
The club’s Benton base was closed last week after first-team players and staff tested positive for the virus and Newcastle’s Premier League match at Aston Villa last Friday was postponed as a result.
This Saturday’s home fixture with West Bromwich Albion remains at risk of postponement but those who returned negative results in the latest round of testing will return to the training centre on Tuesday.
Newcastle United will train at their base in Benton on Tuesday for the first time in nearly two weeks after it was closed following a Covid-19 outbreak at the club
Monday’s training session was cancelled as the club waited for test results but Newcastle announced they would return on Tuesday
The club wrote on their Twitter account: ‘Newcastle United’s players will train at the Training Centre today following a temporary closure last week due to a rise in Covid-19 cases.
‘Those who had tested positive will follow relevant protocols before returning. Thanks for your messages of support to our players & staff.’
As Sportsmail reported, players had been hoping to return to training on Monday afternoon but were told they had to wait for the results from their latest round of testing. The planned session was scrapped but training will go ahead on Tuesday.
Steve Bruce’s side saw their match at Aston Villa last Friday postponed because of the cases
Newcastle’s training centre will reopen to those players and staff who tested negative
The rising numbers of positive cases within the club has left the visit of West Brom to St James’ Park in doubt and the Premier League are being kept informed of developments.
There is no deadline as to when a club can request the postponement of a fixture but the return to the training centre is at least a step in the right direction for Steve Bruce and his squad.
One factor in favour of Saturday’s game going ahead is that the players can travel independently to the stadium rather than together on coaches.
More than 10 individuals have been infected in the past two weeks as the club scramble to get the infection back under control.