Newcastle United's Premier League trip to Aston Villa cast into doubt amid Benton Covid-19 outbreak

Reports suggest FIVE players have now tested positive for the virus in the last week, with one member of staff also struck down prior to the club’s 2-0 win at Crystal Palace last Friday. Some reports have that number higher.

Newcastle United’s training ground at Benton was closed over the weekend with planned training sessions on Monday and Tuesday cancelled.

And with the whole squad currently self isolating ahead of further testing and the gates closed on the club’s Benton training base, Friday evening’s trip to Villa Park is in doubt.

Premier League rules state the fixture can only be postponed due to Covid-19 infections if 14 or fewer players are available. Clubs hit by infections are expected to call up players from their under-23 squads.

But this outbreak, the first of its kind in the Premier League, is set to test working Covid-19 regulations, in place since the beginning of Project Restart, like never before.

When contacted for comment both the Premier League and Newcastle United were unavailable.

Steve Bruce revealed before the Palace win that three unnamed players and one member of staff tested positive for Covid-19. Allan Saint-Maximin missed the game with a calf injury while Andy Carroll also sat it out. Jamaal Lascelles, Isaac Hayden and Emil Krafth were not involved at Selhurst Park.

Speaking after the Palace game, Bruce said: "We’re trying our utmost to be safe as safe as we can. My concern isn’t just player welfare, which is vitally important, it’s members of my staff too.”