Steve Bruce questions key Premier League decision after Newcastle United Covid-19 outbreak
Steve Bruce feels that the Premier League should return to bi-weekly testing following the Covid-19 outbreak at Newcastle United.
The club’s fixture against West Bromwich Albion tomorrow will go ahead after the training ground was reopened.
However, Bruce will be without a "significant” number of players who are either self-isolating or fatigued following Covid-19 infections.
Bruce and his players were tested twice weekly in the summer when last season restarted.
However, the Premier League has only funded weekly tests this season. Bruce, for his part, would feel more comfortable with a bi-weekly testing regime.
United’s head coach said: "Look, how do I go against scientists and doctors? I did think personally for us, and we were twice a week when we first came back, a little bit more secure with it then.
“I raised the question, and the advice we got back from the scientists and the doctors was that once a week was sufficient. You have to respect that, and I didn’t think it was right, but who the hell am I? I’m a football manager to give my observations on it, but, certainly me personally, I felt a lot more secure being tested on a Monday and a Thursday than I did just once a week.
“That is my thoughts on it. I made it pretty clear to everybody concerned but they thought different.”
Bruce and his players will now be tested more regularly following the outbreak.
"The Premier League, and the medical advice we got, was that once a week was enough,” said Bruce. “But, when you’ve had what we’ve just had, and since we’ve had the outbreak, we’re tested every three days. Those tests every three days have enabled us to get the training ground open – and see no others with it.
"Personally, I made it clear to the Premier League when we had that meeting, that I still think it should be twice a week. Unfortunately, the doctors, who know more than me, decided that once a week was enough.
"We’ll be tested again on Sunday. So it’ll probably be three times a week now for however long. We will monitor that. It’s no point in having every 24 hours, because it can incubate for three, five, seven days – that’s the difficulty.”