Slaven Bilic reveals his view on under-threat Newcastle United fixture

Newcastle’s Premier League fixture away to Aston Villa last night was postponed due to a Covid-19 outbreak at the club.

And the club’s players hope to return to training early next week ahead of the December 12 home game against Bilic’s side, who entertain Crystal Palace tomorrow.

Asked if the United game would go ahead, West Brom manager Bilic said: “We don’t know yet. The health and security of the staff and everybody who is involved – referees, everybody – comes first.

“Of course, that’s normal. Aston Villa against Newcastle is postponed. For our game, we don’t know. That’ll be down to the Premier League, and it’s down to the situation there. It’s even above the Premier League – it’s down to the medical people.

“To be fair, I’d like to play that game, not because there’s a chance that they’ll not be fully fit for that game, but because having a game in hand sounds good – if you’re at the top of the table.

“If you’re lacking points, it affects the table and the table affects your mentality, it affects the media, it affects the confidence.

“One game, OK. But if it becomes two games in hand, then the gap is bigger and you’re not in the position you want to be, it becomes a significant problem.”

Newcastle have not revealed the number of positive Covid-19 cases at the club, which beat Palace 2-0 eight days ago.