Blackburn’s Elliott Bennett & two Fulham players among coronavirus positive tests

Blackburn captain Elliott Bennett and two unnamed Fulham players have tested positive for coronavirus in the latest round of testing in the Championship.

Rovers said midfielder Bennett, 31, was “asymptomatic and feeling no ill effects”.

Across Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 1,030 players and staff were tested, with three positive results returned.

Two people at Hull were confirmed to have the virus on Sunday after the previous round of testing.

Championship clubs were allowed to return to non-contact training on Monday – the first step towards the potential resumption of the season.

Both Fulham players will remain unnamed because of medical confidentiality, and are self-isolating in line with English Football League and government guidance.

Blackburn said, providing he develops no symptoms, Bennett will return to training on Friday, 5 June.

“I feel fit and healthy,” Bennett told the club’s website. “Hopefully this sends out a positive message to the community that perhaps many people have or have had the virus without showing any effects.

“I obviously would never have known if we hadn’t returned to training and taken the tests, because I don’t feel unwell and have got no symptoms whatsoever.

“There seems to have been a lot of hysteria about footballers returning to training, but it’s not a big deal at all. It’s the people who are seriously ill in hospital that we need to worry about, not footballers who are fit and healthy, and who aren’t showing any signs of being unwell.”

No Championship matches have been played since 8 March, with the season suspended five days later.

There has been no specific date set for a resumption, although the EFL said in a statement earlier this month that Championship clubs have “indicated that it is their wish to play on and conclude the season”.