Advertisement

Crystal Palace have no positive Covid-19 tests after Newcastle outbreak, Roy Hodgson confirms

 (Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
(Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Crystal Palace have no positive Covid-19 cases after the outbreak at Newcastle United, with manager Roy Hodgson revealing the club enforced extra measures to keep players safe.

There were fears that Palace might have issues with the virus after facing Newcastle in a Premier League fixture at Selhurst Park on November 27.

The Magpies’ subsequent game against Aston Villa - scheduled for Friday night - was postponed earlier this week due to a “significant” rise in positive results.

Palace were the last team to play Newcastle before their outbreak and there were concerns it could impact them, with the Eagles in action against West Brom on Sunday.

Hodgson, however, has revealed the club have had no new positive cases for Covid-19 after players followed strict guidelines - such as changing for training in their cars - while they waited to be tested.

“Our doctor did exceptionally well, as did our team manager, our team liaison man, Danny Young,” said Hodgson.

“They did ever so well in making sure we quickly realised that it was going to be difficult for us to operate before we were tested. Testing was that day I think.

“It would have been very difficult for us to operate without the test in the normal way, the way we have been working.

“So they worked very hard to make certain the players came in their own cars, that people changed and sat in their cars, that we didn’t have the usual breakfast and lunch facilities.

“We just went straight from the car, where the player was waiting ready to train, onto the training field. Then we went directly from the training field back into the car.

“We did everything to make certain that we weren’t going to be in any environment where players were close together in an indoor area. It was just the training session itself where they had some sort of contact with each other.

“Luckily we had our test that day and the tests all proved negative, so we could get back to a more normal way of working.

“But we certainly made a lot of effect to take all of the right precautions and to make sure we were absolutely well within the Covid guidelines that we have been getting from the Premier League via the Government.”

This weekend get a £10 free bet with Betfair, when you bet £10 on a Same Game Multi on the Premier League.

Terms: Min £10 Same Game Multi bet on any EPL match this Fri- Sun. Free bet valid for 72 hours, awarded at bet settlement. Excludes cashed out bets. T&Cs apply.

Read More

Palace XI vs West Brom: Confirmed team news and predicted lineup

West Brom vs Crystal Palace: Prediction, team news, how to watch

Seaman: Arsenal are wasting Ozil and should sign Zaha