Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus have tested positive for coronavirus, Manchester City confirmed on Christmas Day.
Positive Coronavirus Tests for Manchester City Duo
Walker and Jesus Test Positive Along With Two Staff Members
Manchester City duo Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus must self-isolate for ten days after testing positive for coronavirus.
Two unnamed members of club staff also tested positive.
It means the key duo will miss Premier League matches against Newcastle United, Everton and Chelsea.
They could return in time for the League Cup clash with Manchester United on January 6.
A statement by the club said: “All four 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 our colleagues a speedy recovery over the Christmas period ahead of their return to work, training and competition.”
It is not known whether they have tested positive for the new strands of coronavirus.
Top-flight clubs in Tier 4 coronavirus restriction areas plan to increase covid-19 testing from once a week to twice.
More regular testing will then be rolled out to clubs in lower-tier areas, possibly including Manchester in Tier 3.
Coronavirus Problems Follow Injury Issues for Manchester City
The positive coronavirus tests come as a blow to Pep Guardiola ahead of matches against Newcastle and Everton.
Guardiola’s side then have a six-day gap before travelling to London to take on Chelsea.
But Walker and Jesus will remain unavailable with the duo set to self-isolate for 10 days from the date of their positive test.
Sergio Aguero is only just returning to the first-team after suffering a knee injury; he may now be called upon more regularly due to Jesus’ absence.
Joao Cancelo could replace Walker at right-back and Benjamin Mendy or Oleksandr Zinchenko could take the Portugal defender’s spot on the left-side of defence.
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