Steve Bruce on 'brutal' toll Covid-19 has taken on Newcastle United players

A number of players are still unavaulale following the coronavirus outbreak at the club’s training ground.

Isaac Hayden and Federico Fernandez have returned to action after recovering from Covid-19 infections.

However, other unnamed players could be weeks away from returning to training, and Bruce’s first thought is for their welfare.

“It has all sorts (of symptoms and after-effects), I would say,” said United’s head coach. “We’ve had the full range. We’ve had vomiting, sores, mouth ulcers, no smell, no taste, but the big thing of course, and which is the worrying thing, is the welfare of one or two or three of them. It’s not great at all.

“We’re still going to be weeks, and that long-term Covid is something which you wouldn’t think possible in young, fit, athletes. Unfortunately, it is so.

"I’ll be governed by the doctors and the medical people, but the most worrying element is fatigue and I think most people will realise, or the vast majority who have got it, the one thing that the virus leaves, even if the virus has left them, is the fatigue aspect.

“They go for a walk for half an hour, and then they want to go back to bed. It’s as brutal as that. It has been very difficult. It’s been a really difficult couple of weeks.”

Hayden – who returned against West Bromwich Albion last weekend – was bed-ridden for 10 days with Covid-19.

A message from the Football Clubs Editor

Our aim is to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative Newcastle United coverage 365 days a year.

This depth of NUFC coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to, please consider taking out a subscription to our new sports-only package here.

Your support is much appreciated. Richard Mennear, Football Clubs Editor