Spurs avoid close contact with virus

TOTTENHAM have confirmed their preparations for Friday’s clash with Manchester United will continue as normal despite a Norwich player testing positive for Covid-19. The clubs played on Friday in a friendly involving the player, casting doubts about Spurs’ plans for Project Restart. Norwich say the player will self-isolate for a week while the positive test has no consequences for Tottenham. The Norwich star returned one of only two positive results from the 1,200 tests carried out last week. A Tottenham spokesman said: ‘The Norwich player in question has confirmed he had no “close contacts” (being within two metres of a confirmed case for 15 minutes or more) yesterday and our squad have also verified this. Our testing has continued to return only negative results for Covid since one positive reading was confirmed almost two weeks ago.’ Defender Ben Davies admitted the comeback clash against United is crucial to his hopes of finishing the season on a high. Spurs are eighth, four points adrift of fifth-placed United and a further three behind Chelsea in fourth. Jose Mourinho’s side limped into the enforced break on the back of six games without a win in all competitions, culminating in a 3-0 defeat by RB Leipzig in the Champions League last-16. Davies said: ‘It is a huge game in our season. If we start off on the front foot it can really give us a big platform and confidence to push on for the rest of the season.’