{"id":575763,"date":"2020-12-26T00:00:34","date_gmt":"2020-12-26T05:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=575763"},"modified":"2020-12-25T17:47:17","modified_gmt":"2020-12-25T22:47:17","slug":"manchester-city-duo-test-positive-for-coronavirus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/12\/26\/manchester-city-duo-test-positive-for-coronavirus\/","title":{"rendered":"Manchester City Duo Test Positive for Coronavirus"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kyle Walker<\/a> and Gabriel Jesus<\/a> have tested positive for coronavirus, Manchester City<\/a> confirmed on Christmas Day.<\/p>\n

Positive Coronavirus Tests for Manchester City Duo<\/h2>\n

Walker and Jesus Test Positive Along With Two Staff Members<\/h3>\n

Manchester City duo Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus must self-isolate for ten days after testing positive for coronavirus.<\/p>\n

Two unnamed members of club staff also tested positive.<\/p>\n

It means the key duo will miss Premier League<\/a> matches against Newcastle United<\/a>, Everton<\/a> and Chelsea<\/a>.<\/p>\n

They could return in time for the League Cup clash with Manchester United<\/a> on January 6.<\/p>\n

A statement by the club said:<\/a> “All four personnel will now observe a period of self-isolation in accordance with Premier League and UK Government protocol on quarantine.<\/p>\n

“Everyone at the Club wishes our colleagues a speedy recovery over the Christmas period ahead of their return to work, training and competition.”<\/p>\n

It is not known whether they have tested positive for the new strands of coronavirus.<\/p>\n

Top-flight clubs in Tier 4 coronavirus restriction areas plan to increase covid-19 testing from once a week to twice.<\/p>\n

More regular testing will then be rolled out to clubs in lower-tier areas, possibly including Manchester in Tier 3.<\/p>\n

Coronavirus Problems Follow Injury Issues for Manchester City<\/h3>\n

The positive coronavirus tests come as a blow to Pep Guardiola<\/a> ahead of matches against Newcastle and Everton.<\/p>\n

Guardiola’s side then have a six-day gap before travelling to London to take on Chelsea.<\/p>\n

But Walker and Jesus will remain unavailable with the duo set to self-isolate for 10 days from the date of their positive test.<\/p>\n

Sergio Aguero<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

Joao Cancelo<\/a> could replace Walker at right-back and Benjamin Mendy<\/a> or Oleksandr Zinchenko<\/a> could take the Portugal defender’s spot on the left-side of defence.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>