Steve Bruce makes worrying admission at Newcastle United

Newcastle United's game against West Bromwich Albion tomorrow will go ahead after the club reopened its training ground this week following an outbreak of cases.

Bruce, however, will be without a “big chunk” of his squad for the Premier League fixture.

United's head coach would not reveal how many players had been affected by the outbreak, though he did say a “significant” number of players and staff had tested positive over the past fortnight.

Worryingly, two staff members have been particularly badly affected.

“I’ve got one or two staff who are really poorly with it – we hope that they’re going to be OK,” said Bruce.

Some players who have completed their 10-day isolation periods remain fatigued, according to Bruce, and won’t be involved against Slaven Bilic’s side. Others have been asymptomatic.

“Of course, (the player are) young and fit,” said Bruce. “A lot of asymptotic (cases), who its just washed over. But they’ve still got it. That’s the difficulty in managing it.

"A lot of the players have got it, and don’t know they’ve got it. That’s obviously the difficulty. It’s a little it easier when they’ve got symptoms. A lot of the players didn’t have symptoms, but we had one or two who have been severely fatigued. That’s one thing we’ve noted over the last few days.”

Bruce praised the response of the club to the outbreak, which saw the training ground closed after the 2-0 win over Crystal Palace a fortnight ago. It was reopened on Wednesday following another round of testing.

“It’s been a significant number of people, and I’ve got two members of staff who are poorly at the minute, sick, so we hope that they’re OK,” said Bruce.

"The club has done everything it can for the welfare of the players and staff. I feel like a doctor this week rather than a football manager. It’s been really, really difficult. It’s been so difficult.”

Asked how he was, 59-year-old Bruce said: “I’m fine, thank you.”

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