Steven Gerrard to miss Aston Villa’s next two games after testing positive for Covid-19 | Football News

December 25, 2021 admin

Aston Villa head coach Steven Gerrard will miss the club’s next two Premier League games after testing positive for Covid-19, the club have announced.

Gerrard will not be in the dugout for the Boxing Day clash at home to Chelsea, live on Sky Sports, or Tuesday’s trip to Leeds.

The club said in a statement: “Aston Villa can confirm head coach Steven Gerrard will be unable to attend our next two Premier League matches with Chelsea and Leeds United as he will be isolating after testing positive for Covid-19.”

Villa’s meeting with Burnley last weekend was postponed due to an increased number of positive coronavirus tests among the squad.

Earlier on Christmas Day, it was announced Luton’s Sky Bet Championship clash with Bristol City on Boxing Day has been postponed.

The game at Kenilworth Road was called off following a number of positive Covid cases in the Hatters’ squad.

It was the seventh Championship and 21st EFL game on Boxing Day to be called off, while only 16 of the original 35 matches went ahead at the weekend

Premier League publishes guidance over fixture postponements

The concerns of managers and captains were heard by the Premier League at special meetings on Thursday.

Managers and players raised fears about the number of games they have to play in quick succession during the Christmas holiday period because of the demands it is putting on squads which have been reduced in size as a result of Covid-19.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola raised the possibility of players going on strike over welfare issues, while Tottenham head coach Antonio Conte labelled the meetings “a waste of time”.

Following calls from managers for transparency over why some matches have been called off and some have not, the Premier League has since published guidance to explain its protocols for postponing fixtures.

Clubs have been told they must provide the following information when applying for a game to be postponed:

Details of players and staff who have Covid, their vaccination status and – if known – the source of their infections
Players and staff unavailable through injury and illness
Players on the squad list who are still available, including ‘appropriately experienced’ U21 players
Medical information to verify status of each unavailable player, which will be reviewed by the Premier League’s medical advisers

The Premier League will then consider the following factors when deciding whether to grant the request:

Impact of Covid infections, injuries, illness and isolation on the squad, plus the number of first-team and ‘appropriately experienced’ U21 players available
Matches will be postponed if a club does not have at least 13 outfield players and a goalkeeper available
Status of any Covid outbreak at the club, including the number and source infections, and the proximity to the match
Club’s ability to safely prepare its players
Medical advice over whether there is an unacceptable risk to the health and safety of players and staff by playing the match
Advice from UK Health Securities Agency and other public bodies
Other exceptional circumstances

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