NEWCASTLE’S game with West Brom is at risk of being axed with the crisis-hit club’s coronavirus cases ‘well into double figures’, according to reports.
Steve Bruce’s side were the first club to see a game called off since March after they pulled the plug on their clash with Aston Villa due to a spate of positive coronavirus results in the squad.
Newcastle‘s training ground has been closed for ten days already – and remains shut today, despite hopes they would return – with Saturday’s game now in jeopardy.
West Brom were due to visit St James’ Park for the 3pm kick-off.
But with coronavirus cases in the Newcastle squad now ‘well into double figures’, according to The Telegraph, that looks to be almost impossible.
On November 27, Newcastle beat Crystal Palace 2-0 in their most-recent game.
Bruce was later informed two of his players who had earlier returned negative test results for Covid-19 had since tested positive.
Those players had been mingling with the Newcastle squad in the lead-up to – as well as during – the match in South London.
Now it’s claimed at least ten players in the Toon group have tested positive for coronavirus.
Newcastle are yet to confirm the official number.
But it’s believed Bruce would struggle to get 11 players on the pitch for the visit of West Brom this weekend.
Newcastle are awaiting the results from the latest round of coronavirus tests before debating asking the Premier League for permission to postpone their second game in a row.
The Magpies will now have to wait until Tuesday at the earliest to see if they can finally get back to training.
West Brom boss Slaven Bilic revealed he hopes the game can go ahead, with fears the missing game could wreck his players confidence in their bid to avoid relegation.
Bilic said: “To be fair, I’d like to play that game [against Newcastle]…
“Not because there’s a chance that they’ll not be fully fit for that game, but because having a game in hand sounds good – if you’re at the top of the table.
“If you’re lacking points, it affects the table and the table affects your mentality, it affects the media, it affects the confidence.
“One game, OK. But if it becomes two games in hand, then the gap is bigger and you’re not in the position you want to be, it becomes a significant problem.”
