Coronavirus outbreak at Newcastle United puts Premier League match with Aston Villa in doubt

Steve Bruce's squad told to stay away from training ground

A National Health Service advertisement outside of Newcastle United's St James' Park stadium. Reports suggest that the Premier League club has been hit by a major Covid-19 outbreak. Reuters

Newcastle United's Premier League game with Aston Villa on Friday is under threat owing to an outbreak of coronavirus cases in the squad.

The Magpies have closed their training ground and it is not expected to re-open until Wednesday at the earliest, The Guardian newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Manager Steve Bruce had already cancelled training on Sunday after four players and a member of the backroom staff tested positive for the virus last week.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the club learnt that more players tested positive when the latest batch of results were returned on Monday. The whole first-team squad and staff have been told to self-isolate at home.

Bruce was already without five first team players for last Friday's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace. Another round of testing is due to take place on Wednesday.

Newcastle players such as Allan Saint-Maximin, Andy Carroll, Jamaal Lascelles, Ryan Fraser and Isaac Hayden did not play at Palace but the club has not confirmed if they were injured or self-isolating after testing positive.

Speaking after the match in London, Bruce said: "It is a concern and difficult to manage. We are trying our utmost to make sure we try and stay as safe as we can.

"Of course my concern is not just the welfare of the players, which is vitally important, but my members of staff too. We will do our best but it is difficult at the moment."

No Premier League match has been called off since football resumed following the March lockdown. Premier League authorities have previously said for a game to be postponed it would require 14 players to be affected.

However, if the team is able to field 11 players plus three substitutes the game should go ahead.

The fixture schedule is already a hectic one with many managers blaming a higher-than-usual rate of injuries on the quick turn around between matches.

According to the Telegraph, the possibility of the players turning up solely for training on Wednesday without entering the buildings is being considered.

The city of Newcastle itself will enter the tier three restriction band on Wednesday when the latest lockdown ends – the highest allocated by the UK government.

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Palace v Newcastle player ratings

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  CRYSTAL PALACE RATINGS: Vicente Guaita - 6: Spaniard had dealt easily with Newcastle's powder-puff finishing but was then exposed late on and had no chance with goals. AP

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  Nathaniel Clyne - 7: On back foot early on and ball played behind him down right to Joelinton almost provided Newcastle with early goal. Improved as match went on. EPA

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  Scott Dann - 4: Poor night for the captain. Distribution was sloppy and one awful ball out of defence straight to Joelinton on brink of half-time should have been punished but Brazilian wasted chance. Foul on Longstaff with 12 minutes to go handed dangerous free-kick to Newcastle that Ritchie wasted. Skinned by Joelinton before Brazilian scuffed home second goal. Getty

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  Gary Cahill - 7: Vital early block to deny Wilson chance at near post. Half-chance with header just after break. Deflected Joelinton shot into net for second Newcastle goal. EPA

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  Patrick Van Aanholt - 6: One dreadful free-kick when well-placed on edge of box on hour mark. Fine cross from left handed Benteke chance but should have done better with ball into box late on with Batshuayi waiting. AFP

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  Andros Townsend - 5: Disappointing match for the former Newcastle winger who failed to offer any attacking threat. Reuters

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  Cheikhou Kouyate - 6: Back in preferred midfield role and produced solid performance. One scuffed finish wide with half-chance in second half. Getty

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  James McArthur - 7: Usual work ethic from the Scottish midfielder, plenty of tasty challenges and a couple of surging runs forward. Getty

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  Jeffrey Schlupp - 7: Palace’s biggest attacking threat with Wilfried Zaha out. Held off Fernandez but saw shot well saved by Darlow in opening 45 minutes and headed chance wide with half-time whistle closing. A menace throughout. Getty

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  Eberechi Eze - 6: Forced save out of Darlow with team’s first shot on target after 24 minutes but Palace needed more from the former QPR man. Getty

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  Jordan Ayew - 4: Non-existent as attacking threat in first half. Handed half-chance by Schlupp just after break but could only push a shot well wide. Reuters

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  SUBS: Christian Benteke (On for Ayew 66’) 7: Instantly offered Palace more penetration up front and excellent downward header saved by Darlow. AFP

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  Jairo Riedewald (On for Townsend 67’) 7: One superb tackle stopped dangerous Newcastle counter-attack. AP

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  Michy Batshuayi (On for McArthur 82’) N/A: Could have given Palace lead had Van Aanholt not over-hit cross. Getty

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  NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Karl Darlow - 7: Premier League’s busiest goalkeeper had quiet start to match but then was called into action and produced several important stops. PA

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  Javier Manquillo - 7: Perfect cross from right in second half handed Wilson chance that striker headed just wide. Usual reliable show defensively and going forwards from the Spaniard. AP

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  Ciaran Clark - 8: Former Aston Villa defender was assured presence back in team, playing the ball out well from the back and making quality interceptions. Man of the match.

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  Federico Fernandez - 7: Booked in first 20 minutes for body check on Schlupp and then outpaced by same player just before half hour and was relieved to see Darlow come to rescue. But called on to make some important challenges including once magnificent block to deny Benteke in last 10 minutes. Reuters

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  Jamal Lewis - 6: Left-back produced assured performance. Nice turn and shot just before break but effort with weaker right foot didn’t trouble Guaita. Getty

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  Jonjo Shelvey- 7: Welcomed back from injury and captain on night with Jamaal Lascelles out. Always the man to drive team forward, sprayed ball around in trademark style. Almost scored with late free-kick. Reuters

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  Sean Longstaff - 6: A couple of raking cross-field balls to switch the play from the Geordie midfielder. Booked for sliding challenge as Schlupp with Palace man baring in on penalty area. PA

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  Jeff Hendrick - 5: No faulting his positioning or workrate in midfield but offered nothing going forward or in possession to the extent you forgot he was playing at times. Getty

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  Miguel Almiron - 5: The pacey Paraguayan was again a disappointment for Newcastle and is struggling to find his role in manager Steve Bruce’s line-up. PA

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  Joelinton - 7: Numerous chances in first half but either blazed high and wide or hit tamely straight at Guaita. Missed header in second period after great cross from Ritchie. But did cause Palace problems throughout and supplied ball for Wilson’s winner. Lucky to see another scuffed shot deflected into net by Cahill. PA

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  Callum Wilson - 7: Newcastle would have been frustrated that chances kept falling to Wilson’s partner up front rather than the former Bournemouth man. Saw header float just wide in second half and then produced calm finish when put through by Joelinton. An out and out goalscorer. AP

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  SUBS: Matt Ritchie (On for Almiron 68’) 7: Offered Newcastle some much needed width as soon as he came on. One great cross that Joelinton failed to capitalise on. Poor free-kick hit straight at keeper when well placed on edge of box. Fabian Schar (Joelinton 90+3') N/A. Getty