Manchester City confirm THREE new coronavirus cases, hours before they play Manchester United

Manchester City have confirmed Scott Carson, Cole Palmer and one staff member have tested positive for coronavirus, taking cases at the club over the last fortnight up to 17.

The new cases demonstrated the worsening status of the Covid-19 crisis at the club, with the veteran goalkeeper, young midfielder and staff member joining the six other City players, three members of staff, one academy player and four City Women players to have contracted the virus over the festive period.

The news comes just a few hours before Pep Guardiola’s men take on city rivals Manchester United in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and a day after the latest Covid figures released on Tuesday showed cases across the Premier League doubled with a new record of 40 new positive tests. 

Veteran goalkeeper Carson is on loan from Derby

Veteran goalkeeper Carson is on loan from Derby

Palmer is a highly-rated midfielder at the club

Palmer is a highly-rated midfielder at the club

Scott Carson (left) and Cole Palmer are among three new Covid cases at Manchester City

The news comes as a further blow to City boss Pep Guardiola ahead of his side's Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester United

The news comes as a further blow to City boss Pep Guardiola ahead of his side's Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester United

The news comes as a further blow to City boss Pep Guardiola ahead of his side’s Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester United

A club statement said: ‘Manchester City FC can confirm that Scott Carson, Cole Palmer and one member of staff have tested positive for COVID-19. 

MAN CITY’S 17 COVID CASES IN 14 DAYS 

Pre Newcastle: 2 first-team players plus 2 back room staff

Pre Everton: 3 first team players

Pre Chelsea: 1 first team player, 1 academy, 1 back room staff

Pre Man United: 2 first team players, 1 backroom staff

Manchester City Women: 4 players

<!—->Advertisement

‘Both personnel will now observe a period of self-isolation in accordance with Premier League and UK Government protocol on quarantine.

‘Everyone at the Club wishes Scott, Cole and all of our other colleagues a speedy recovery ahead of their return to work, training and competition.’ 

City saw their festive period severely disrupted by a Covid outbreak in the squad, which led to their Premier League fixture at Everton on December 28 being postponed.

Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus were the first two players to return positive tests ahead of the Boxing Day win against Newcastle, followed by three more within the squad before the trip to Goodison Park.

City’s training ground was closed for a deep clean as a result and more rounds of testing carried out. 

Testing following the victory at Chelsea at the weekend showed a positive for centre-back Eric Garcia, but the Spaniard was sidelined anyway and wouldn’t have made the squad for the trip to Stamford Bridge. 

Gabriel Jesus and Kyle Walker were the first to test positive, followed by three others

Gabriel Jesus and Kyle Walker were the first to test positive, followed by three others

Gabriel Jesus and Kyle Walker were the first to test positive, followed by three others

Walker and Jesus are said to have come out of quarantine on Tuesday but are unlikely to feature at Old Trafford.

Four stars from Manchester City’s women’s squad also tested positive on Monday after their trip to Dubai, which was undertaken with the club’s permission with Manchester under Tier 3 restrictions at the time.

Four Premier League fixtures have been postponed as a result of Covid outbreaks so far this season. Newcastle United called off their trip to Aston Villa last month after a spate of positives within their squad and staff.

City’s game at Everton was the second and an outbreak at Fulham this week saw the postponement of their visits to Tottenham and Burnley.

The five were then joined by City defender Eric Garcia following subsequent testing

The five were then joined by City defender Eric Garcia following subsequent testing

The five were then joined by City defender Eric Garcia following subsequent testing

Speaking ahead of the game which could see his side join Tottenham in the Carabao Cup final, Guardiola admitted he had concerns about overstretching his squad.

‘We don’t have many players,’ he said. ‘To play one or two games is OK but if this sustains for a long time and I can only use 14 or 15 players it will be more difficult.

‘The most important thing is that the guys who have Covid can recover well and the guys handle it well and try to avoid it as much as possible.’

Leave a Reply